GT Reading — Test 10

Reading passage

TEXT Text A — Changes to your kerbside recycling collection From Monday 7 September, recycling in Ferndale will be collected fortnightly instead of weekly. Your general rubbish will continue to be collected every week as normal. Each household will receive two new containers before the end of August: a blue wheeled bin for paper and cardboard, and a green box for glass, tins and plastic bottles. Please do not put plastic bags or film in either container, as these jam the sorting machinery at our processing plant. Bags of any kind, including those labelled biodegradable, should go in your grey rubbish bin. Please rinse tins and bottles before putting them out, and flatten cardboard so that the lid of the bin closes fully. Containers must be placed at the edge of your property by 7.00 am on collection day. Crews are unable to return for bins put out late. If your recycling is not collected and you believe this is our error, report it on our website within 48 hours and we will arrange a catch-up visit. Households that produce large amounts of recycling may request one extra blue bin free of charge by calling 01632 496 220. A calendar showing your new collection dates is enclosed with this letter, and further guidance is available at www.ferndale.gov.uk/recycling. Ferndale Borough Council, Waste Services Team ———————————— TEXT Text B — Second Spin Reuse Centre — give your unwanted items a new home Before you throw it away, think of Second Spin! We are a not-for-profit shop on Harbour Road that accepts good-quality furniture, working electrical goods, bicycles, books and kitchenware, then sells them at low prices to local families. Free collection service: our van can pick up larger items — sofas, wardrobes, washing machines — from your doorstep at no cost. Book online at www.secondspin.org.uk or call 01632 496 883. Collections run Tuesday to Saturday, and most bookings are completed within five working days. Smaller donations can simply be dropped off at the shop whenever we are open — no appointment needed. Please note we cannot take items that are damaged, stained or missing safety labels. Sofas and armchairs must carry the original fire-safety tag, and electrical goods are tested by our qualified technician before going on sale. Volunteers wanted! We currently need drivers and shop assistants for weekend shifts. No experience is necessary — full training is given, and volunteers receive a 25% discount on everything in the shop. Every item you donate keeps waste out of landfill and raises money for the Ferndale Youth Trust. Last year, shoppers and donors together saved an estimated 90 tonnes of household goods from disposal. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9.30 am – 5.00 pm. ———————————— TEXT Text C — Brackwell Lane Household Recycling Centre: visitor information Opening hours: April to October, 8.00 am – 6.00 pm daily; November to March, 8.00 am – 4.30 pm. The site closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Residents may bring most household waste free of charge, including garden cuttings, scrap metal, wood, batteries and used engine oil. Charges apply to construction materials: rubble, plasterboard and soil cost £4 per sack, payable by card only — cash is not accepted anywhere on site. Cars may enter freely, but vans, pick-ups and trailers longer than two metres require a permit. Apply at least three days before your visit using the online form; permits are free and allow up to twelve visits per year. For your safety, children must remain inside the vehicle at all times, and site staff cannot help with unloading. Sturdy footwear is recommended, and gas bottles and tyres are limited to two per household per visit. Reusable goods in good condition can be left at the Revive Cabin near the entrance, where they are passed to local charities rather than crushed. Items accepted include furniture, toys and tools. Queues are longest on Sunday mornings; for a quicker visit, come on a weekday afternoon.