Frustrated residents hit out at district's recycling system - The Leamington Observer

Frustrated residents hit out at district's recycling system

Leamington Editorial 17th Oct, 2018   0

FRUSTRATED residents have hit out at the district’s recycling system after a drop in recycling rates.

Three years ago households recycled an average of 820kg each, but that figure was down 20kg in 2017.

Householders say they are ‘fed up’ separating recycling into boxes and bags provided by Warwick District Council.

The council however argue separating items improves the quality of recyclable material compared to that of a mixed system which led to more unrecyclable materials ‘contaminating’ the load.




But residents highlighted a number of issues including their containers going missing and being charged for a replacement, contents not being collected, and bin lids and rubbish blowing along streets and across driveways.

Warwick resident Nigel Nobes said: “My recycling boxes are never fully emptied and sometimes are not returned. There’s a stray one on the verge outside right now unclaimed. The grey bin is also sometimes unemptied if it’s too full and the lid is pushed up.


“People are resigned to the decline in all public services, after nearly ten years. Recycling and rubbish is no exception.”

A council spokeswoman advised labelling containers with house numbers and names and collecting them as soon as possible after the collection.

And if they did go missing, added alternative bags or boxes could be used but should be sturdy, have handles and hold no more than 55 litres.

She said if contents were not collected, it could be due to materials or containers did not meet the requirements but residents should be left a tag advising why.

The council also dismissed claims kerbside recycling was sometimes seen thrown into the same compartment of the collection vehicle.

Green councillor Ian Davison told the Observer he thought the fall in rates was due to cuts and reduced financial incentives.

He also urged residents to report missed collections to help monitor and improve the service.

He said: “Overall there should be more transparency as to where the issues are. That way we know the scale and location of the problems, which will help to tackle them.”

Visit www.warwickdc.gov.uk to report a missed collection.

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