Green Waste Collection
I know the decision to cease the green waste collection has caused much concern to residents. You will all be aware of the reasons given by ELDC for the partial cessation of this service and I know that for many of you this was not an adequate explanation given how you value this service.
As your Ward Councillor I am very aware of your concerns and many of you were able to voice your opinions at the Horncastle Area Committee meeting held at Jubilee Park. Both Cllr Harness and I sit on the Waste Sounding Board, a committee which looks at the efficiency and impact of this service, and we will make your comments known at our next meeting.
From my perspective as a Ward Councillor there were a number of points I had to consider prior to deciding how to vote.
How will this impact on residents?
- There is no doubt that residents value this service. Those with gardens make good use of the green waste collection.
- Many of our older residents especially value the convenience of the green waste collection. It’s easy to use and saves the need to travel to the Waste Recycling centre at Kirkby on Bain.
- Do those with larger gardens compost enough of their green waste?
- Do those with gardens compost their household green waste?
- Is the service widely used in the winter months?
- The impact on ELDC’s excellent recycling record….this loss of service might demotivate our very willing residents from recycling. This can only be measured post implementation but officers are confident that there will only be a marginal impact on our recycling rates.
Why is ELDC reducing the green waste collection?
- The budgetary pressure on ELDC to save money to ensure that vital front line services continue is great. These pressures will increase as the economic downturn impacts on councils all over the country. The loss of the Icelandic Bank interest is only part of the story…. central government cuts and other budgetary pressures means that Councils have to make difficult decisions.
- The savings made by reducing this service are significant and would be hard to replicate in other service areas especially where these services are legally required.
- The service is discretionary i.e. ELDC are not required to provide this service and as such the decision by EDLC to provide district wide green waste collection was made when the council had sufficient funds to operate such a service.
- The fact that large lorries are trundling around East Lindsey with very little green waste on board has to be considered. I am aware that the average weight of a green waste bin in summer is 45kg. In winter this reduces to 5kg. This is not an efficient use of resource.
- The reduction in ELDC’s carbon emissions should be seen as a mitigating benefit given that this will be in the region of 145 tonnes.
Please CLICK HERE to see the ELDC provided FAQ information.
There is no doubt that the reduction of service is very unpopular but my decision to vote for this financial saving was made taking all the above considerations into account.
In January and February 2009, I was able to undertake a very unscientific survey in Woodhall. On the green waste collection days I was able to see for myself the reduction in the take up of this service. Roughly 1 in 8 green waste bins were put out for collection and this was broadly in line with the EDLC assertion that their collection lorries were very underutilised.
I am also aware that more can be done to compost green waste. Speaking from personal experience, as a family we now compost all our household green waste. Our compost bin is positioned near our backdoor and we compost all our peelings etc. We have purchased a subsidised compost bin which is ideal for our green household waste. We do have to make 2 trips each year to the Recycling Centre at Kirkby on Bain with hedge clippings but all our lawn cuttings are composted as are our leaves in the autumn.
