Bring Bank Centres

Update on changes to glass recycling services 

The Council is in the process of implementing measures aimed at providing a more efficient, effective and high-quality package of glass recycling opportunities to all residents in the Borough. 

Background 

Prior to the introduction of the kerbside glass recycling service in June 2017, Ards and North Down had an extensive but ageing network of glass recycling bring banks across the Borough. Since the introduction of the household kerbside collection service, this provision had remained unchanged.  

This network of sites often attracted complaints about illegal dumping and broken glass waste around banks and was also a focus for other antisocial behaviour.  These banks were serviced by third party operators, with the associated collection costs due to increase significantly from March 2021. 

In summer 2020 Council agreed to reduce the number of glass bring banks and for glass collection arrangements within the borough to centre predominantly on the Council’s kerbside collection from households. 

Supporting this, a new, complementary network of larger, more hygienic banks would be located at 17 sites around the Borough.   These sites include all 9 of Council’s Household Recycling Centres plus 8 standalone sites in the following publicly accessible locations:  

• Anchor Car Park, Springfield Road, Portavogie (Now installed)
• Bangor Sportsplex  (Now installed)
• Banks Lane, Ballyholme (Now installed)
• Bloomfield Shopping Centre  (Now installed)
• Crawfordsburn Glen, Cootehall Road (Now installed)
• Groomsport Harbour  (Now installed)
• Killinchy Community Centre, Beechvale Road (Now installed)
• Village Hall, Newtownards Road, Greyabbey (Now installed)

The changeover to this new glass recycling model presents a logistical challenge, which requires co-ordination with the outside contractor who serviced the old network of bottle banks in the past and is responsible for removing these containers.   

We wish to thank residents for their patience until the new arrangements are fully in place: this is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2021.  

Please continue to use the kerbside collection fully.  Collection days for each home and reminders of when to put glass boxes out for collection are available via the free to download Bin-ovation App.  

Removal of Old Banks – as of week commencing 8 March 2021

All glass banks identified for removal have now been sealed up, with closure notices placed in the vicinity and/or on the banks.  Several banks have now been lifted and the removal of the remaining banks is ongoing.   

Please do not attempt to access banks that are closed. Please do not leave glass waste at any of the sites where the banks have been sealed.  

As the banks are removed the areas are being swept and cleaned up.  There has been some dumping at the former sites, but our teams are endeavoring to respond quickly to remove any dumped materials/bottles.   

Please continue to take advantage of your kerbside recycling boxes for any household glass waste.  

If you require a new or an additional box, contact recycling@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk with your full name, address (including postcode) and telephone number. 

Thank you to everyone who recycles their glass waste, and to all our residents who currently use their household glass box to recycle: in 2019/2020 we collected over 2,100 tonnes of glass from your doorsteps!