‘Minimal’ paper is now being collected separately across South Tyneside, Gateshead and Sunderland following years of decline.

A report by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership says the current kerbside dry recycling collection is no longer sustainable.

The partnership began considering alternative collection models in 2019 and is reviewing this to reflect new collection data and changes since the pandemic.

Recommendations will be made to each partner authority’s senior leadership team ‘in due course’.

The report also acknowledges that the volume of recycled waste in South Tyneside has ‘decreased substantially’ because of industrial action.

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