North Lanarkshire Council's Environmental Services Committee has agreed proposals that aim to protect the environment, invest in the future and help charity.

 

That's because on Wednesday 27 November it approved the North Lanarkshire Council Recycling Initiative, which will not only reduce the amount of waste sent to dump sites – landfill – it will also potentially save the council millions of pounds in landfill tax and create donations to charities like St Andrew's Hospice, Children First, Help the Aged and the British Heart Foundation.

 

North Lanarkshire Council makes a charitable donation for every 1% increase in its recycling targets. The four charities mentioned above have between them already received £26,500 through this initiative.

 

Today's decision, however, was based on the need for the council to meet Scottish Government recycling targets, and avoid taxation for over-use of landfill sites.

 

"We currently recycle around 28% of waste," said Executive Director of Environmental Services Paul Jukes. "That's a considerable improvement on 1.2% in 2001, but it's not enough. The Scottish Government expects 40% in the next two years; 50% by 2013 and 70% by 2025.

 

"Penalties are potentially high – fines for exceeding landfill limits in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, for example, could come to more than more than £2.2 million. That's money we would rather spend on the continued improvement of council services.

 

"The more we recycle, the greater the benefits. Less landfill not only means cost savings, but also protects the environment for future generations. And the fact that it also benefits charities like St Andrew's Hospice, Children First, Help the Aged and the British Heart Foundation, is a very welcome bonus."

 

Entitled 'Recycle for Good – North Lanarkshire Council's Recycling Initiatives', the initiative approved today will increase recycling figures through an alternate weekly collection system similar to that operating in 13 other Scottish local authorities.

 

Other options were considered, however none had the potential to reach recycling targets without significant cost, for example the purchase of additional collection vehicles and payment of landfill taxes.

 

The council has urged people to welcome the news, assuring residents that it will do everything possible to make the transition to the new service as easy as possible.  "It is vital to understand that these proposals are for a weekly collection system," said Councillor Helen McKenna, Convener of the Environmental Services Committee.

 

"Residents will still have one collection a week – the only change is that one week we will collect recyclables and the next we collect ordinary waste.

 

"All the evidence shows that when implemented properly, this system is a very effective way to increase recycling and protect environmental resources. And we have developed extensive plans to ensure implementation would run very smoothly.

 

"We ask residents to work with us while we implement the change, and to help us achieve the recycling targets we absolutely must achieve."

 

The first step towards implementation will be an extensive education and information campaign that will tell residents about changes to the present system and ensure they are well prepared before implementation.

 

"We will be in touch with every household in North Lanarkshire at every stage in the implementation process to ensure residents continue to receive the high quality service they expect," said Councillor McKenna.

 

"This council is absolutely committed to that principle and to working with residents to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future. We cannot continue to be the wasteful society we are, we must change. This is only the start of the process - but it's how we mean to go on."

 

Ends