Bournemouth's recycling: From Kent to Ghent
After collection the materials are transported over 150 miles to be sorted and can end up as far afield as Belgium.
But why can't we deal with our own recycling in Bournemouth and make more recycled products in Dorset?
Both the recycling and waste departments of Bournemouth borough council declined to speak to Not my problem? about this matter.
Currently our recycling is transported by Viridor, a waste management company, to the Grosvenor material reclamation facility in Crayford.
Once the mixed recycling is separated into paper, glass and plastic it is then sold on to companies who will recycle it.
One such company is Stora Enso, which recycles magazines and newsprint. Recycling from Bournemouth which ends up in their Langerbrugge mill in Ghent, will have travelled over 300 miles by road and sea.
Green waste and recycling is dealt with by Dorset firm Eco Sustainable Solutions, which minimises emissions from travel and keeps recycling processes, products and profits within the county.
Not my problem? was keen to find out the cost of the current arrangement and ask whether it might be better invest in recycling facilities within the county or adopt a European system of recycling where individuals sort their own recycling before collection. It was disappointing that they were unable to speak to us at this time.
The red line on the map shows just how far some of Bournemouth's recycling will travel.