Tories will fine non-recyclers. (Reigate Liberal Democrats)

Reigate Liberal Democrats <info@reigatelibdems.org.uk>

Tories will fine non-recyclers.

February 25, 2005 9:10 AM
By Cllr. Steve Kulka in Redhill & Reigate LIFE (Not published)

In response to the recent recycling letter from our Tory Council.

So our Tory Council are now considering the threat of fines of up to £1000 for householders found not recycling.

Some people don't recycle anything except tins and paper. The reason often given is that they just don't have the space to store the glass and other stuff that they have have to take to a recycling bank. Not everyone lives in big houses with space to store rubbish.

Why doesn't the Council just make it easier by collecting it all together from your door?

After a long Lib Dem campaign stretching back many years, the plastic bottles that fill up our land fill sites faster than anything else for it's weight, are now to be recycled. The catch is that you are going to have to take them to some remote 'Bring To' site, along with your glass bottles, jars, textiles, foil, etc. For example, if you live in Lower Kingswood you may have make a 6 mile round trip to the nearest plastic collection point.

The Council has an obligation to collect your household waste from your home. It seems that they are now working towards a system where residents have to sort their waste and take it all to a local dump.

The Council have just announced that they have missed their recycling targets again. They need us to recycle more, or we will all face fines through increased Council Tax.

When the Lib Dems introduced recycling from your front gate in the mid nineties, recycling increased by about a factor of ten.

When will the Conservatives learn that our residents are keen to recycle?

We just need to make it easier. Let's try a bit less stick and a bit more carrot.

Cllr. Steve Kulka

Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council