Conwy Council Digital Approach to Recycling

Conwy Council to trial digital deposit return scheme.

05:42 10 December 2020

Conwy County Borough Council has partnered with technology supplier Polytag and the Welsh Government for its deposit return scheme (DRS), which encourages people to recycle bottles.

 

The trial, which will run over four weeks during the spring, will see householders scanning bottles using an app before they are placed in recycling containers. The bottles will then be scanned upon collection by Conwy's household waste recycling team. 

 

To encourage maximum participation, householders are rewarded a digital token worth 20 pence for each bottle scanned. The tokens can be donated to raise funds for the local primary school. 

 

Lesley Griffiths, Wales’ minister for environment, energy and rural affairs, said: “Measures such as these will allow a more flexible system for consumers than having to return items such as bottles or containers themselves, and will link in well with existing infrastructure already in place at the household recycling collection systems run by local authorities.

 

“By taking advantage of new technologies, we can move closer on our route to a circular economy – and I look forward to seeing the results of the trial once it has taken place.”

 

Councillor Greg Robbins, Conwys’ cabinet member for environment and transportation, said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in this pilot recycling scheme. It’s an exciting opportunity to use technology to track and make the most of recyclable materials while raising money for the local school.”