VILLAGES around Alton are about to be included in the third phase of East Hampshire District Council's new glass collection cycle. The move to expand the service follows the success of the initial two phases. The new kerbside glass collection service, which started in parts of the district in February, has already seen more than 157 tonnes of glass collected. The third phase, which is to start this Monday, will see collection boxes delivered to residents living in the villages of Beech, Bentworth, Bentley, Binsted, Bucks Horn Oak, Froyle, Lasham, Ropley, Rowledge and Wield, as well as parts of Medstead and Shalden. In the southern part of the district the collection will embrace the villages of Buriton, East Meon, Froxfield, Langrish, Steep, Stroud and parts of Clanfield and Horndean. Residents will have plenty of time to fill their boxes with glass bottles and jars before the first four weekly collections take place during the weeks beginning Monday May 28 and June 11, dependent on the collection round. Linda Horne, projects officer for EHDC on the waste reduction team said: "The collection box will arrive complete with a colourful leaflet giving further details about how the scheme works and why it is so important to recycle more glass, plus a calendar to show collection dates for the rest of the year. "It is hoped that everyone will make use of the service whether they have enough glass bottles and jars to fill the box every time or only a few items now and then. The bottle banks will, of course, still be in place for additional glass." The new service is being introduced in four phases, directly linked to the existing recycling collections rounds. The advantage for the majority of residents is that they will not have to remember another day of the week for their glass collection as it will take place on the same day as their current collections. Boxes will be picked up on a recycling collection day, every four weeks. Some residents living in properties with communal bin facilities will be waiting a little longer for the start of the service as EHDC will be arranging for them to have shared bins with lockable lids through which the bottles and jars can be safely posted. Anyone with any queries about the delivery of their box or the glass recycling service itself can contact EHDC on 01730 234295 or check the council website: http://www.easthants.gov.uk/kerbside">www.easthants.gov.uk/kerbside.
