SIR,
We would like to respond to Monmouthshire Council's recycling claims.
Monmouthshire's three Friends of the Earth groups wish to respond to Cabinet Member Eric Saxon's recent "Reasons for Recycling Changes" press release(s).
In their opinion, Councillor Saxon is to be applauded for:
Publicising the reasoning behind the Council decision. Exposing some of the financial issues.
Admitting Council recycling policy has left the county lagging behind other authorities Withdrawing the allegation that FOE were lobbying to retain MCR.
However regrettably he fails to explain: Why the council decided to pay £160 per tonne when offered the £100 per tonne tender.
Why the environmental impacts appear to have been totally ignored. Why the in house price of £148 per tonne is perceived as good value. How a contractor can be blamed for Council policy failure.
Why the WAG policy recommending source separated not co-mingled collections is being ignored.
Monmouth Friends of the Earth believe that although some local authority waste departments and recycling facility operators claim co-mingled collections are better, independent experts such as the Welsh Assembly and WRAP agree that source-separated recycling services – like our Black Box - are cheaper to run and better for the environment.
The results from Monmouthshire's own trial show greater participation and weight collected per household for source separated collections yet Cllr Saxon continues to take the view that Monmouthshire residents prefer co-mingled. Over a thousand residents have signed a petition to the contrary.
Friends of the Earth will continue to urge the Council to:
Retain source separated recycling until a county-wide recycling contract – including plastics – is put out to open tender.
Obtain best value for money.
Honour the council commitment to adopt policies that reduce both climate change and damage to the environment.
Friends of the Earth
(Monmouth)