Is Colchester turning its back on going green?

Fresh figures have revealed the town’s recycling rate has dropped, with the amount of household waste being recycled falling by nearly 700 tonnes.
 

In 2010/11, 16,149 tonnes were recycled while in 2011/12, the figure was 15,470 tonnes.

But the amount of waste going to landfill has been cut, from 36,005 tonnes in 2010/11 to 35,325 tonnes in 2011/12.

Martin Hunt, councillor responsible for waste and recycling, said: “I am fast becoming more aware that the figure relating to the amount of waste going to landfill is the most important figure.
 

“That is where the money is being spent, and more importantly, that is where we could be saving money.”

Since 2008, Colchester householders cost Essex County Council taxpayers £4.6million because of the amount of waste going to landfill.

Mr Hunt added the slight drop in the overall recycling rate, from 40.29 per cent in 2010/11 to 40.24 per cent in 2011/12, could be the result of a number of reasons.

“By popular demand, supermarkets are using less packaging and people are reusing more as well as doing their own compost,” he added.

“People criticise me for the recycling rate not increasing but if you look at the success of the food waste trial, we are going in the right direction.”

Mr Hunt has already said he could fine people who do not recycle in an effort to reach a target recycling rate of 43 per cent by March next year.

He could also give the go ahead for repeat offenders’ rubbish not to be collected.

But Sue Lissimore, shadow councillor responsible for waste, said: “The fact is the recycling rate is going in the wrong direction.

“In order to increase it we will have to make sure collections are being done correctly.

“If residents are going to the trouble of separating out their recyclables and are complaining they are not being taken, then we have a problem.

“People will just say that they’re not going to bother and put everything in a black sack, and that is the last thing we want.”