Here in Bath&NES we were the first Council to adopt Zero Waste as our waste stratgey following a campaign and motion to Council from myself and Roger Symonds supported by the whole group. Upto May 2007 our recycling was improving year on year. However over the last two years the new Conservative administration has failed to introduce same day collection and failed to introduce food waste collection. Two moves that we would have done and by now our recycling rates would be approaching 60% and amongst the best in the country. We have had one victory though in convincing the Conservative administration not to join in with the insane PFI Incinerator bid being put together by Bristol, S Glos and N Somerset Councils.
A key goal to waste issue is not to generate it in the first place. This means looking at what you buy and actually generating less rubbish. We strated Zero Waste week several years ago and this year in the week just finished our household (4 adults currently living here) generated a total rubbish bag of 3lbs.
Press release put out on the 30th
For immediate release: Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Third Annual Zero Waste Week Challenge
Liberal Democrat Councillors in Bath are taking part once again in the Council’s Zero Waste Week Challenge. Councillors Paul Crossley (Southdown), Cherry Beath (Combe Down) and Ian Gilchrist (Widcombe) have all undertaken to attempt to produce no waste for one week (29.09.08 to 05.10.09.)
Councillor Beath commented:
“My family are keen on composting at home and I have recently purchased a kitchen composting gadget in which you put both cooked and raw food waste mixed with a bran-based organic fermented material which prevents the indoor compost bin becoming slimy and smelly. The resulting product is then added to our larger compost heap outside. It’s appalling to think of compostible waste going to land fill.”
Councillor Crossley added:
“Liberal Democrats are committed to making Bath and North East Somerset the number one recycling authority in the country.
“It is disappointing that the Conservative-run Council administration is delaying the introduction of the collection of kitchen waste for composting from B&NES residents. The Liberal Democrats intended to introduce kitchen waste collections this year, but now the Conservatives are dithering over when to introduce the service to residents.”
Councillor Gilchrist said:
“The Liberal Democrats introduced this Council’s Zero Waste policy which implies continual progress towards reducing waste. We believe kitchen waste collections should be introduced sooner rather than later.”