WARRINGTON Borough Council must do more to improve its recycling rates say the Liberal Democrats.
The call for action came as a result of a question raised at the last meeting of the council.
Former council leader Cllr Ian Marks (pictured) said: “When the Liberal Democrats took over the leadership of the council in 2006, the domestic recycling rate was 14 per cent. When we left control in 2011 it had increased to 43 per cent and we had climbed nearly 200 places in the local authority league table.
“ Much of this was due to the blue bins we are proud to have introduced. I asked why the rate had only increased to 44 per cent in 2018/19.
In the answer I was told it had increased to 47.5 per cent in 2019/20. I welcome this but it is still not good enough at a time when there is much more concern about our environment. I realise the market has changed and many countries in the Far East are refusing to accept our waste any more, but these are not acceptable excuses. “
Cllr Marks said a recent nation-wide study of 2,000 Britons found that nearly half felt ashamed that they didn’t recycle enough. Another poll supported by TV presenter Ben Fogle found that nine out of 10 people want clearer information from councils on what can be recycled. Eight out of 10 wanted councils to make more effort to recycle a wider range of household items. Three quarters found recycling symbols on packaging confusing.
“We call on the council to do more to improve the clarity of information that is given to residents so that the recycling rate in Warrington can substantially increase in the next few years.”
