Sarah Carr launches Herefordshire Liberal Democrat Waste Charter

10.07.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jul 2007

Chris Huhne in Ross-on-Wye

Sarah Carr, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, has called for step change in increasing household recycling collections across Herefordshire. At a Climate Change public meeting at Hereford's Shirehall on Saturday 7th July Sarah Carr launched a 'Waste Charter' for Herefordshire.

Sarah Carr spoke on a platform with Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Chris Huhne MP. Mr Huhne gave a detailed and comprehensive view of the devastating impact of climate change and the party policies to tackle the changes in our climate. Following the key note speeches Chris Huhne MP and Sarah Carr took part in an hour long lively question and answer session covering issues such as the impact of energy prices in rural areas, the need for energy efficient affordable housing and growing innovative local environmental businesses based in Herefordshire.

Herefordshire Liberal Democrats Waste Charter calls for:

1. Kerbside recycling to be extended to all households countywide Currently 32% of households in Herefordshire do not have a kerbside recycling collection, inevitably leading to much recyclable waste going to landfill

2. All glass to be collected as part of kerbside collections. A glass kerbside recycling collection is currently only available in a limited part of Herefordshire; residents wanting to recycle glass should not have to transport it personally to central collection points as this disadvantages those without cars and those in rural areas

3. Much greater encouragement for households to increase home composting including making one compost bin available free of charge for each household

4. All garden waste collected to be shredded or composted and not dumped in landfill as currently, with the garden waste turned into usable wood chippings made available to residents and local organisations, and garden waste bags to be provided free of charge on request

5. Kerbside recycling to be extended to all businesses. Currently there are no council kerbside recycling services offered to local businesses

6. A commitment to reduce the volumes of waste going to landfill by at least 3% per year The reduction in the volume of waste going to landfill was just over 1% in 2006/07, compared with top quartile unitary authorities who managed reductions of over 5%

7. The Retail Packaging Bill to be made into law which requires retailers to provide collection points for packaging sold by them and an obligation for it to be recycled, or disposed of safely if not practical This Bill was introduced by the Liberal Democrats in March of this year

8. A step change in the local recycling rate from 19% currently, to 50% by 2009/10. Best practice nationally shows that many authorities are already achieving rates of 40-50%, so a 50% target is more than achievable

9. Hereford to become a 'Plastic Bag Free' City, which will help to reduce the 300 plastic bags per person used each year

10. Herefordshire council to increase the amount of household waste composted centrally from 7% now to 14 % by 2009. Best practice shows top quartile local authorities are already achieving central composting rates of 13%, almost double the current levels locally