Alternative to bin plan
On September 25 the weekly bin collection in Stafford passed into history as the Environmental Scrutiny Committee voted in favour of the Tory proposals. From February 2008, we can look forward to fortnightly collections.
On September 25 the weekly bin collection in Stafford passed into history as the Environmental Scrutiny Committee voted in favour of the Tory proposals. From February 2008, we can look forward to fortnightly collections.
Amid cries of indignation, denying the charge that the decision was a ruse to cut back on a cash-strapped budget, the Tories declared themselves environmental champions of Staffordshire.
It was the then controlling Labour council which introduced recycling under Agenda 21, despite protests from the Tories at the time that the cost was too great. It was also due to Labour that Government channelled more cash to Stafford as a mark of its success.
Of the six proposals placed before the committee, Option 6 was cheapest, most efficient and most environmentally friendly. This called for the use of three bins (250-litre capacity), one for household waste, one for garden waste and cardboard and the third for dry recyclables, all to be emptied fortnightly.
This option provided for 50 per cent recycling and the promise that the borough would meet its government targets and reduce residual waste by 66 per cent.
Option 4 was a near mirror image of Option 6, but allowed for weekly collections of household waste. The subjective assessment of efficiency results was based upon the assumption that householders would not separate out recyclable waste.
What had not been taken into account was the opportunity to introduce a smaller bin (140-litre capacity) for non-recyclable household waste. This procedure has been followed by several authorities in the Midlands, but had clearly not been considered by this moribund council. Had it had, it would have seen that the costs and efficiency ratings of Options 4 and 6 were near identical.
In my opinion, the opportunity exists for the council to retain weekly bin collections and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites, by introducing the smaller household waste bin.
Cllr Malcolm Millichap, Penkside Village Gardens, Walton-on-the-Hill, Stafford.
