Lib Dems welcome U-turn on recycling

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed a change of thought by the Conservative administration which will result in an improved recycling service for Wiltshire residents.

Initial proposals under the 'harmonisation' process were that waste collection and recycling would be reduced to a lowest common denominator, with charges being introduced in West Wiltshire for green waste collection and with no kerbside collection of plastics and cardboard even in those areas where it previously existed.

Now the council is consulting on a scheme which would involve fortnightly collection of residual waste, free green waste collection, continuation of the black box collection of glass, paper, cans, foil and textiles, and a kerbside collection of cardboard and plastic bottles.

This is similar to the proposals contained in the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the unitary elections in 2009, though that document also promised food waste collections to avoid the problems of smells and vermin which can be associated with fortnightly bin collections. The Liberal Democrats would also have used subsidies to encouraged home composting, which is the most environmentally friendly means of disposing of most organic waste.

"The proposals now being put forward are still slightly timid," said environmental spokesman Trevor Carbin, " But they're a huge improvement on what the Conservatives suggested originally. I would urge people to respond positively to the consultation now underway, though if they could mention the need for a food waste collection that would help us to keep up the pressure for further improvements in the future. The economics of recycling are in a state of continual flux but generally it makes financial sense to landfill as little as possible, especially when it comes to bio-degradable waste."

The situation has been complicated by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles stating that councils should return to weekly rubbish collections. "Mr Pickles clearly has no understanding of the realities of waste disposal beyond what he reads in the tabloid papers," said Lib Dem group leader Jon Hubbard. "Reverting to weekly residual waste collections would result in an increase in the amount we landfill and hence in the amount of landfill tax and fines. It would be costly and foolhardy both economically and environmentally."