Households in Leeds have recycled twelve thousand tonnes of glass in just one year, as part of a green bin scheme to cut carbon emissions and boost sustainability.
00:00It's been one year since households in Leeds were first allowed to put glass into their green bins, and the results are clear.
00:08Since the scheme launched on 1st August last year, residents have recycled an impressive 12,000 tonnes of glass.
00:15That's part of Leeds City Council's plan to cut carbon emissions, and so far it seems to be working.
00:21In just 12 months, the city's glass recycling rate has jumped from 48% to 75%.
00:27That's helped save 464 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the same amount produced by driving a petrol car more than 1 million miles.
00:36It's also reduced the amount of waste being sent to landfill, helping the city become cleaner and more sustainable.
00:43Once it's picked up, the glass is sorted at a plant in Leeds.
00:46It's then sent to facilities across Yorkshire, where it's melted down and made into new bottles and jars.
00:52That process is quick, with most of it ready for reuse within a month.
00:56It means the glass you recycle this week could be back on shop shelves before the end of the next.
01:01But despite the progress, the council says a quarter of glass in Leeds is still ending up in black bins, and that means it can't be recycled.
01:09So the message is simple. If you're not using your green bin, it's time to start.
01:14There are also 700 glass banks dotted around the city, each capable of holding up to 3,000 bottles and jars.
01:21They're free to use and available for those who don't have space or access to curbside collections.
01:26Councillor Mohamed Rafiq, who oversees climate, energy and the environment, said the first year of household glass collections had been a big success.
01:36He thanked people for their efforts and urged everyone in Leeds to help make the second year even more successful,
01:42not just for the planet, but for Yorkshire's economy too.
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