Region signals greener thinking

Aug 16 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE has broken through the 20% recycling rate for the first time, but is still lagging behind its neighbours and the national rate.

The region recycled 22.5% of its waste between March 2006 and April 2007, an increase of 4.1% on the previous year.

Last night officials at Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA), which released the figures, said while it was good news there was still a lot more to do.

Neighbouring Lancashire recycled almost 40% of waste last year and according to the latest available figures 31% was recycled in Cheshire in 2005/06.

The national rate stands at 27%. A leading recycling firm in Liverpool – Centriforce – last night said despite the low figure the future was bright.

Cllr Kevin Cluskey, chairman of MWDA, said: “As pleased as we are with the improved recycling rate, we know there is still much work to be done.

“By working together with our district council partners, by listening to the public, and by improving our own facilities we can achieve our future targets.”

The amount of waste recycled in the region last year was 174,940 tonnes – double what it was in 2004 when 77,934 tonnes avoided landfill.

The MWDA said in addition to this, 40% of waste taken to the region’s network of 16 household waste centres was recycled.

It is hoped that a £3bn Private Finance Initiative (PFI) plan to improve Merseyside’s waste management technology will push the recycling rate up.

There are currently a variety of kerbside collection services in operation in Merseyside’s council. In May, Liverpool was reportedly worst in the region for recycling, according to available figures, with just 7.6% being recycled compared to 22% in St Helens and 15% in Knowsley.

At that time Sefton was recycling 14.5% of its waste and Wirral said its rate had doubled from 7% to 14% since the introduction of alternate weekly collections split between regular mixed rubbish and waste for recycling.

The Government has warned it could take over bin collections if low performing councils do not improve their rate, but it is understood none in Merseyside are on the national danger list.

Efforts are constantly being made to improve the region’s environmental record, in order to avoid huge government fines.

Liverpool is currently introducing wheelie bins for recycling of materials including plastics, cardboard and glass. These will be collected every fortnight with normal rubbish every week.

Sefton is in the process of introducing fortnightly recycling collections, and Wirral completed the introduction of fortnightly collections earlier this year.

In March, Knowsley introduced a scheme to collect rubbish every week, and recycling every fortnight.

It is hoped these new schemes will help increase the rate.

St Helens has no plans to change its weekly collection system, but is to launch a major marketing campaign later this year to encourage more recycling.

Cllr Cluskey, added: “We are about to deliver a £3bn contract on Merseyside which will transform the way we handle waste by enabling us to build new facilities, for waste that has not been recycled at kerbside, and improve the ones that already exist.

“There are going to be some tough decisions to be made, and hopefully people will get right behind us and the decisions we make.”

Barry Keeling, commercial manager of Centriforce, said: “The area is languishing near the bottom, but soon it should be near the top.”

He said along with the MWDA’s planned investment the region had two of the biggest recycling firms in the UK.

That includes his own company and St Helens-based JFC Delleve which also recycles plastic.

davidbartlett