7 February 2011
Described as "A PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF ITS RECYCLING SERVICES", Essex County Council has announced potential cuts to its Recycling Centre service.
Essex County Council (ECC) has control of 23 sites in Essex and is proposing:
- Changing opening hours; It is proposed that winter opening hours (closing at 4pm) are adopted throughout the year.
- Variable Opening Days; Closing at "quiet" times with possible closure on one day each weekend. Some sites could be restricted to 4 days a week.
- Site closures; The number of sites could be reduced by between 2 - 6 sites.
A report on the future of Recycling Centres will be presented to ECC Cabinet this week and the cuts could be implemented by late 2011.
The Green Party in Essex has strongly supported the development of Recycling Centres as part of a wider strategy to improve recycling rates. Essex has performed very well in recent years as a result of the combination of Recycling Centres, better kerbside collections and the wider availability of bring-banks. With strong support from residents, both Uttlesford and Braintree Districts now recycle more than 50% of household waste. The Greens are proposing a new Essex-wide target of at least 70% by 2020.
Cllr. James Abbott, Essex Green Party Co-ordinator and a Braintree District Councillor said
"Restricting the service provided at Recycling Centres will be a backwards step and we have concerns about the impact on recycling rates and the risk of greater fly-tipping.
Essex County Council is trying to spin this issue as an "improvement" when we all know its a cost cutting exercise - another breach of the pledge by the Tories not to cut front-line services.
It could also be a false economy because if more flytipping does take place, the districts and boroughs have to pick up the tab of clearing it up - taxpayers will not see any benefit.
Recycling Centres have proved very popular, especially at weekends. Instead of these cuts, we would suggest Essex County Council looks at the £39 million it spent on consultants last year and the very generous increases in allowances it awarded its councillors last year."
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