Bournemouth residents recycling twice as much using Lib Dem scheme!

9.10.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Apr 2007

'We're delighted that residents have responded so positively to the scheme,' says Councillor Roger West

Latest figures from Bournemouth Council show that residents are recycling twice as much using the new 'big bin' recycling scheme, introduced by the Liberal Democrats.

• From September 2006 to February 2007, 8553 tonnes were recycling.

• This compares to 4278 tonnes collected under the old Blue Bag scheme between September 2005 and February 2006

In addition, between September and December last year, residents recycled 398 tonnes using the kerbside green garden waste scheme,and 110 tonnes through the Kings Park and Slades Farm 'bring sites'.

'This is great news,' says Environment Panel Chairman Roger West, who asked for the numbers.

'We're delighted that residents have responded so positively to the scheme. It's a shame that because there were teething problems that Bournemouth's Tories keep criticising the scheme and putting it under threat if they take control of the Council.

'It is clear that people want to recycle more, and they are able to do so using the new collections introduced by the Liberal Democrats.'

The latest figures also show that the amount of waste being put into landfill has fallen by nearly a third (30%).

'This figure really matters,' adds Roger West. 'Council Tax payers have to pay landfill taxes for every tonne of rubbish that gets buried in the ground.'

'The Lib Dems are committed to getting even more items into the scheme.'

'The garden refuse collection scheme is running again after the winter low growing season. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to review the scheme in July to look at what would be the best way of dealing with garden waste in the long term.'