GOING GREEN - Plans for more recycling in Warwick District.
July 27, 2006 9:31 PM
In 2008 the District Council is planning to collect cardboard and plastic bottles from the doorstep of every home and extend the green waste service from half the households in the District to reach everyone who wants it.
Cllr Margaret Begg (Lib Dem) who is responsible for environmental services explained, " At present we are recycling 28% of our waste. This is more than double our performance in 2003 - thanks to local residents whose
enthusiastic participation has made this possible. Now we have another big step to take to reach the EU, Government and County targets for 2009/10. Our aim is to reach 45% to reduce the amount going to landfill and avoid the huge penalties due to be imposed if we overstep our allowance.
"We plan to achieve this by introducing more recycling. The collection is labour intensive and expensive and the value of recycled materials very low, so we need to make savings to avoid large increases in council tax.
Once paper, cans, glass, textiles, cardboard and plastic are removed from the waste stream, the amount left in the dustbin is reduced by 50%. This means that we can change to alternate weekly collection of recyclables and non recyclables. We will provide wheelie bins for the non recyclable waste so that the contractors' vehicles can be used for green waste one week and refuse the next. Large families and those with children in nappies may need a second wheelie bin.
"150 authorities have already introduced this system so we can learn from their experiences. There would have to be special arrangements for flats and small terraced houses, but most households could accommodate the extra wheelie bin and it would reduce smells and the risk of animals tearing open the plastic bags. The County Council is due to provide enclosed composting facilities which will mean kitchen waste can be added to the green waste bin. Once these composters are up and running there will be in effect a collection of kitchen waste every week - one week in with the non recyclable rubbish and the next in with the green waste.
These are big changes which we will be planning in detail over the course of the coming year. I should be glad to hear views from residents as to how we can best meet the recycling challenge. Please contact me on
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