MP demands answers on recycling bins
NORTH West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong has expressed her anger over the 15,000 recycling bins currently being stored in a field.The bins were ordered as part of Wear Valley District Council’s plans to implement a new collection service, but Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors who had previously supported the plans two years ago withdrew their backing meaning the bins can’t be used.
The bins are now costing tax payers £1,250 per month to be stored in a field near Crook. Ms Armstrong said: “I am concerned that my constituents are unknowingly paying towards the cost of storing recyclable bins locally rather than have them distributed because of disagreements between council members.
“In 2006 and 2007, all parties agreed at a full council meeting to spend £280,000 to implement alternate weekly collections for recycle and non recyclable waste. “However, following scare mongering stories in the press relating to alternate weekly collections, the Independents and the Liberal Democrats said they would not support the bins being emptied on an alternate weekly basis, going back on previous agreements.
“I have therefore written to the Liberal Democrat Leader of Wear Valley District Council asking for an explanation and what action is being taken to speedily resolve this issue.”
Leader of the Labour group and former council leader Neil Stonehouse said the Liberal Democrats and Independents were jumping on a national band wagon which opposed their party’s own policy.
He also said that the only criticism to come out of the recent Audit Commission report, which found the council excellent, was of Liberal Democrat councillors’ decision to block the twin bin system. Liberal Democrat group leader and leader of the council Thomas Taylor said:
“We have inherited this problem from Labour. We have always supported the twin bin system but objected to the fortnightly collection because it posed a health hazard and the public were telling us they didn’t want it. If Labour were so bothered about getting these bins out then they could have done that when they had the majority, and it’s just sour grapes that they are blaming us now we are in control.”
Broadlands District Council in Norfolk have made “casual inquiries” about buying the bins, but their future is not clear as Lib Dem councillors held a meeting yesterday to discuss the situation.
A spokeswoman from Broadlands said: “Our environmental department has made a casual inquiry, but we guard our pennies very closely and would make sure we could use them before we took them on.”
A spokesman for Wear Valley District Council said: “The Council agreed through its 2006/07 budget plans to spend £280,000 to implement alternate weekly collections for recyclable and non-recyclable waste in order to improve recycling rates towards Government targets. “The Council took delivery of 15,000 bins in March 2008 and has been storing them at a cost of £1,250 per month.
“Any decision regarding their use will be taken by Council elected representatives in due course.”
