Recycling up in Lib Dem Uttlesford

6.21.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Sep 2005

The level of recycling in Lib Dem-run Uttlesford is up by 3.4%

UDC recycled 3.9% more this year. The jump is the largest improvement since recycling began in 1997 under the Liberal Democrats, with full party support.

Lib Dem Councillor Alan Thawley (Environment Chairman) reacted warmly to this news: "It's a fantastic effort by our residents. Especially welcome is the reduction of 1,000 tonnes in the waste sent to the landfill."

The increase from 19.5% in 2003/4 to 23.4% recycled this year is mainly due to 780 tonnes of green waste, metal and wood from the new weekend recycling service at Dunmow, Stansted and Thaxted. "This shows we really need a similar centre near Great Dunmow. We have been promised one for years by Conservative-led Essex County Council - now is the time for them to deliver," Alan added.

Ways are also actively being investigated to collect food waste with simultaneous alternate weekly collections of dry recyclables such as paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles or textiles. "This means we put rubbish out only once a week instead of twice, making recycling easy. It has the potential to double our recycling and avoid heavy fines for putting rotting waste into landfill."

"Liberal Democrat-run Uttlesford will continue to improve on its already excellent record, reducing the impact of our very high standard of living on our environment" he concluded.