Recycling continues to rise but more to do says
Council
Waste figures for Essex released this week
show that Harlow continues to improve its recycling
rates. However, more can be done to help residents reduce
waste produced and increase recycling. Harlow Council is due
to consider next week how waste and recycling should be collected
from households in the town from September 2009.
Figures issued by Essex County Council reveal
that in 2007/8 22.63% of Harlow's waste was recycled with 1.24%
composted giving a total combined figure of 23.88%. The figure is
an improvement on 2006/7 when 21.29% of waste was recycled and
composted. In Essex, Uttlesford comes out on top with combined
figures of 54.26% followed by Braintree Council with 42.79%. In
total Essex Councils recycled and composted 38.06% of waste. The
top performing areas in the country have combined rates of more
than 42%.
A report to agree the next step in the
procurement process for the town's waste and recycling contract,
which will be renewed in June 2009, will be considered at a special
meeting of the Council's Environment & Community Committee on
Tuesday 8 July.
Councillor Eddie Johnson, Chairman of the
Council's Environment & Community Committee, said:
"The good news is that the town's recycling
rates continue to show improvements year on year. However, there is
so much more the Council has to do to reduce, re-use and
recycle waste. Landfill space is running out and the cost of taking
rubbish to landfill sites will increase. Like other top performing
Councils the only way we can achieve high recycling rates and
reduce rubbish going to landfill is to consider changes to the way
the town’s waste is collected."
"The Council's waste contract is due for
renewal in June 2009 and this gives us an opportunity to do just
that. Next week's special committee meeting will agree the way
forward for the new contract and this is likely to have major
implications on the way waste is collected in the future.”
More information on existing waste and
recycling schemes can be found at www.harlow.gov.uk or phone' Contact
Harlow on 446655.