The High Sheriff of Kent Mr Richard Oldfield spent the morning of Wednesday 9 July as a bin man. Mr Oldfield, who is a resident of Swale, asked to see the recycling and waste scheme at close hand. But first he had to undergo the training induction as a new member of staff last Friday, 4 July.

Mr Oldfield joined the crew of round seven on the Isle of Sheppey at 6.30am on Wednesday 9 July to empty blue bins and black insert boxes in the rain. He said: “I’ve managed to keep up with the freighter and have been impressed with the fitness and speed of the bin men as they run alongside, they do a great job.”

He went on to say: “It’s a great scheme; Swale is definitely setting the pace in Kent as far as recycling collections are concerned”

Andy Hawkes, Contract Supervisor at Verdant said: “We were pleased to welcome Richard Oldfield, the High Sheriff of Kent. He wanted to be treated as a member of the freighter team and, once kitted out with ‘hi-vis’ jacket and gloves, he helped empty hundreds of blue bins. We were pleased to show him that, one year on the scheme really does run like clockwork; on an average day we empty between 1,300-1,400 blue bins full of materials that can be reused”.

Swale Borough Council’s Portfolio holder for Environment, Cllr John Disney said: “The scheme so far has been brilliant success thanks to the residents Swale is top of the field for’ dry’ recycling, which is the kind of things that go in the blue bin.”