Fortnightly collections have boosted recycling

I regret that although I explained quite clearly at the budget council meeting why we had invested in our recycling and waste operation neither yourselves nor the opposition have explained it so let me clarify.

By changing to fortnightly waste collections, we are encouraging residents to recycle and are following many councils across the country.

Some, like Bracknell, have gone further and moved to three weekly collections.

So why does it cost more? We designed our vehicles according to the best practice at the time which was to have split bodies to minimise the number of vehicles.

During the day the lorries have to return to depot a number of times to offload which costs both money and increases the amount of pollutants in the air.

The necessary change to increase recycling meant that the vehicles would significantly increase their mileage and hence pollutants.

We assessed the best way to reduce that effect and found that purchasing a limited number of additional vehicles was the right thing to do. We all know that achieving carbon neutrality comes at a price and this is an example.

So, what has been the effect of changing to fortnightly black bin collections?

Over the period of October to January black bin waste decreased by 21.49 per cent and food waste increased by 30.59 per cent compared with the same period last year.

If we also look at the total percentage of recycled material; in the first nine months of our year, we achieved 50.84 per cent whilst the last quarter of the year instead of declining as normal it rose to 54.12 per cent. Carbon neutrality comes at a price, and it is one we are prepared to pay,

Cllr DAVID COPPINGER Cabinet member for planning, environmental services and Maidenhead