2:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009
By Samuel Underwood
An MP has rubbished a council for not doing enough to promote recycling.
Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, has called for East Sussex County Council to be “pulled out of the stone age” and slammed its efforts to increase recycling rates.
Mr Baker told Environment Secretary Hilary Benn that Lewes District Council was being stopped from increasing the amount of waste it recycles because the county authority wants a “waste stream” to feed its incinerator.
He said the county council was refusing to issue recycling credits - a claim which Mr Benn promised to investigate.
During Commons question time, Mr Baker said: “The Government rightly promotes recycling, but are you aware that Lewes District Council's recycling levels have effectively been capped at 27% by East Sussex County Council - who won't provide further recycling credits because they want a waste stream to feed their incinerator.
“Isn't it about time East Sussex County Council was pulled out of the stone age, and those councils who want to recycle more - such as Lewes who think they can increase recycling by 50% - are allowed to get on with it.”
Mr Benn asked Mr Baker to write to him with details so he could investigate the matter.
A spokeswoman for East Sussex County Council said: “It’s wrong to suggest the county council is stopping district or borough councils from recycling more.
“Our priority is to recycle as much as possible and only waste that can’t be recycled, and would otherwise go to landfill, will be taken to the Newhaven Energy Recovery Facility where it will be converted into electricity.
“Districts and boroughs have the choice to either recycle material through our waste contract at no cost; or go to third parties to recycle the waste, pay the cost of doing so and keep any income.
“If they go to a third party they receive a waste credit payment.
“There is a ceiling on these payments which was set at a time when overall recycling was much lower and it was not expected to be reached.
“It is great news the public is now recycling more, and in light of this the way these payments are made is being reviewed.”
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