Recycling Fiasco

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Recycling Fiasco

February 15, 2007 12:00 AM

Cllr Patricia Pinder, Cllr Judy Douch and Cllr Bryan Ward want improved recycling services for Surrey Heath residents.

Over the past year Liberal Democrats have been conducting a residents survey across our area. One of the main issues to come out of this is the desire of local residents to have a proper door step recycling service. They also want current 'bring sites' to be preserved and also to be emptied more frequently.

Cllr Judy Douch said "Residents are increasingly enthusiastic when it comes to recycling. However, here in Surrey Heath they face a brick wall when it comes to trying anything new. Recently the council has removed facilities in Frimley Green and Lightwater without any consultation, and have been forced to put them back only after local campaigns led by Lib Dem Councillors, the local newspaper and an appearance on the BBC!"

Cllr Bryan Ward agreed "The recycling bins across our area are normally full to bursting. It should not be rocket science to arrange for them to be collected more often."

Tory Surrey Heath Borough Council is not slow to tell the world how good its recycling services are. It recently trumpeted a 5% increase in its overall recycling rate to 30%. However, the majority of the 5% increase this year (which allows the council to meet its Government target) came when the County Council closed its civic amenity refuse site in Wilton Road, Camberley, while it carried out a major refurbishment. Residents used other sites managed by the Borough, hence the increase.

Analysts expect the Borough Council's recycling rate to fall back during 2007, rather than continue to increase.

The Council currently plans to undertake no consultation on whether we should introduce door step recyclables collection or introduce wheelie bins until its current refuse collection contract expires in 2009. This means that it is highly unlikely that the Tory Council will meet the Government's 40% recycling target for 2010.

A Lib Dem council would have recycling as one of its key priorities. We would increase collections from current 'bring sites' in order to make them easier for residents to use, and would launch a full consultation with residents about what door step collection service they would like to see.