Lib Dems fight Tory Waste Collection Cuts

6.32.00am GMT Mon 12th Mar 2007

Liberal Democrats are opposing Maidstone Council Conservative plans, now rubber-stamped in their budget, to cut our refuse collection service to just 26 collections a year.

This initiative is driven by budgetary factors rather than any concern for our environment or the quality of life of local residents. Little thought appears to have been given to the practical problems inherent in operating a fortnightly multiple wheelie bin system within many of our high density residential neighbourhoods. Many families have no choice but to store their wheelie bin close to their home and with fortnightly collections would have to live with two week old, fly-blown waste festering under open windows through our increasingly long and hot summer months.

Liberal Democrats would:

1. Develop waste and recycling 'area strategies' which recognise local conditions

2. Ensure that a kitchen waste collection is available every week

3. Prioritise spending to ensure sufficient funds are available for a civilised refuse collection service which will maintain local quality of life and not spawn an epidemic of fly-tipping

4. Place our priority on waste minimisation including support for home composting. Our campaigns over recent years have ensured Maidstone has the best home composting record in Kent.

Local Lib Dems believe that the Conservatives fortnightly refuse collection proposals are being introduced without sufficient local research or resources and have a high risk of failure. Eleven Boroughs in England have already returned to weekly collection and others are considering doing so either all year round or during the summer months.