The Conservative’s picked up a top recycling commitment when they won the 2007 election. Won on the back of several campaigns of disinformation one of which was the fiction that we were planning to introduce Fortnightly waste collection. Since then the recycling has stalled and they have not significantly moved forward on the initiatives we left in place. In fact they have delayed and delayed on same day waste collection and they have kicked cooked food waste collection into the long grass.  A Liberal Democrat Administration would have had these both in place by now and the Council pushing to be the top Unitary with a recycling rate of 60%.

Talking of Tory Dirty Tricks the latest leaflet from them claims that we are planning a bin tax. What gutter lies. First they are the administration and so we cannot implement such a plan and secondly we have no intention at all of such a policy. They are obviously flying kites in preparation for an unpopular move on recycling or waste. Will they be renaging on one of their election promises on waste? Looks increasingly likely.

Our press release:

For immediate release: Friday, 14 November 2008

 

 

Fourth Place is Not Good Enough on Recycling

 

 

The Conservative-run Cabinet of Bath and North East Somerset Council has become complacent about recycling and waste policies, according to opposition politicians.

 

Reacting to news that the Council has slipped to fourth in the recycling league, Councillor Roger Symonds (Combe Down) said:

 

“As the first Council to adopt a zero waste policy, under Liberal Democrat leadership, B&NES Council was seen as a trailblazer on recycling. However since the new Administration took over however the Council’s waste record is becoming a damp squib.

 

“The Cabinet are happy to congratulate themselves about Government statistics, but meanwhile they are once again considering delaying their promised introduction of kitchen waste collections – now saying this could be put off till 2011 – and same day collections of waste and recycling will now not come in till 2009. These measures would already have been in place under Liberal Democrat plans and local recycling rates would have been nearly 60% by the end of next year.”

 

Cllr Paul Crossley added:

 

“This latest boast from the Administration should really be an admission that recycling and global warming are not high on their agenda. 77% of B&NES residents recycle – residents clearly want to do their bit and want to start now.”