Residents of Brunswick Square are set to take part in communal recycling after Councillor Pete West approved the suggestion at the Council’s Environment Cabinet meeting.

Cllr. West, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Sustainability, agreed to a trial period for Brunswick Square after a public consultation.

Large communal bins will be set up, so that residents can recycle more regularly, from April this year.

Brunswick and Adelaide Councillor Ollie Sykes was delighted that the trial had been given the go ahead, commenting that it was fantastic news for the community.

Cllr. Sykes said: “The decision is positive in an unprecedented way.”

The Council’s consultation showed overwhelming support for communal recycling, with 87% of residents willing to take part in the trial.

Cllr. Sykes said residents of Brunswick Square, predominantly made up of flats, wanted to recycle but often didn’t have enough space to store and fill the box in their home.

The communal recycling initiative will allow residents to recycle as and when they need to rather than waiting for collection day.

Some residents have said they would rather have communal rubbish bins than ones for recyclables because holding on to household waste until collection day is a more important problem to be dealt with.

Vicky Minshall, of Brunswick Square, said: “I don’t really see the recycling as an issue to be honest.”

A second concern was that the new bins might appear unattractive in the seafront square.

One resident, on being asked about the expected effect of communal recycling on the square, said: “It’ll be a complete mess.”

The trial period will last from April 2012 until April 2013, and Cllr. Sykes hopes it will lead to similar schemes being rolled out in other parts of the city.