Fortnightly Black Bag Collection is an Opportunity not a 'Rats Charter'

Letter to 'West Briton' 27.1.2011

Dear Editor,

I disagree with Councillor Alex Folkes’ comments that Fortnightly rubbish collections are a ‘rats charter’, and broadly agree with the West Briton editorial that it is appropriate to ‘reserve judgement’ regarding the proposal pending on how it is implemented. (West Briton 20/1/2011).

Critics of this proposal fail to address three key challenges the council face (1) To increase recycling rates in line with statutory government guidelines (2) To make massive expenditure cuts due to the cut in government grants to local government while trying to protect front line public services (3) To have an alternative waste strategy due to our landfill capacity being reached, and massive public opposition to having the St Dennis waste incinerator.

For me fortnightly black bag collections, coupled with increased recycling helps to ensure the council meets these challenges, and the Green Party have been arguing for such an approach for decades.

People cannot have their cake and eat it. The majority of people do not want to pay higher taxes, yet most complain when vital public services are cut because government does not have the revenue to pay for them. Similarly many are concerned about climate change (especially when they are made aware of the reality of the situation), yet unless they are prepared to change their behaviour to ‘reduce, re use, repair and recycle’ we will face imminent and irreversible global warming. The Green Party have always viewed taking positive action to these challenges as essential for our future.

As a family of four we very seldom dispose of more than one bin bag a week, and we are doing all we can to decrease this. We try to avoid purchasing any item with excess packaging or items we do not need; we compost as much food waste as possible; ensure paper, card, boxes, tins, glass is all recycled; repair items where we can, and where possible reuse or recycle useful but unwanted items to charity shops. This year I want to purchase a ‘Green Cone’ which will effectively break down cooked food waste including meat and fish bones in an odourless way without attracting vermin.

My understanding is the council is also looking to collect food waste on a weekly basis which also will ensure people do not have to fear an increase in vermin. The council also needs to look at ways increase the recycling of some plastics, polythene and ‘Tetra-Pac’ cartons as there are currently limited opportunities for recycling these materials in Cornwall.

People need to rise to this challenge , rather than react in a sensationalist way to this proposal. As a Liberal Democrat Councillor Folkes should support his party’s policies to increase recycling, although U turns do seem the order of the Liberal Democrat approach these days. By changing our behaviour, in this positive way, we can save money, reduce landfill and contribute in a small way to saving the planet. This policy, if implemented, represents a win win for everybody.