Weekly waste collections on agenda

Paying to bring back weekly waste collections and a universal system for recycling are being proposed as the county council election race gathers pace.

Political leaders said these measures could help hit a 65 per cent recycling rate, making Leicestershire the greenest county in the country if they gain power at polls on June 4.

In Leicestershire, the district or borough councils collect rubbish and recycled material, and then most of this is handed to the county council for disposal.

In most areas of the county, apart from in Blaby and Oadby and Wigston, fortnightly collections are in place, which have been deeply unpopular with many because bins often overflow and attract flies in summer.

The Tories, who run the county council, said they could change this by paying these district or borough councils to roll out weekly food collections for Leicestershire, after recently agreeing a deal for Harborough residents to have this service. A weekly service for all rubbish will also be considered.

Labour said they would demand the seven district or borough councils, who each have their own collection arrangements, join together as part of a single contract, which could save millions for taxpayers.

They would also bring in universal recycling system which is easier for residents to use and again make it cheaper to dispose of.

The Liberal Democrats said they would not hand out fines, but they would adopt a tougher approach by employing more county council staff to check rubbish for recyclables and send letters and pay visits to those not doing enough.

Conservative spokesman on waste, councillor Nicholas Rushton said: "Leicestershire is one of the top performing authorities in the country in the amount it recycles.

"Working in partnership with Harborough District Council, we eventually will have produced the first ever regular food waste collection in the East Midlands. We want to roll out this scheme across the county.

"Reduced government grants sounded the death-knell for weekly collections in most areas. Leicestershire retains a weekly collection in areas like Blaby district, while others have a fortnightly collection. Conservatives believe in working with the district councils to enable weekly services wherever possible."

The opposition Labour group said that to increase recycling, schemes must be the same.

Spokesman councillor Denis Bown said: "Districts collect and the county disposes of waste, but the two are entwined. Tories have always had an attitude of us against them, but if they wanted to work better as a partnership, they would save money and increase recycling.

"Our policy is that we have seven councils who collect rubbish and who all have their own arrangements and contracts. The best counties have a single arrangement."

Liberal democrat spokesman on waste, councillor Bill Boulter said: "For us it is about education. This Conservative administration has not done enough. We would go into more schools, community groups, churches, wherever we can to boost recycling.

"We would even consider renting empty shops in town centres an run them as centres to educate people about recycling.

"The Liberal Democrats continue to place the environment at the heart of our thinking and everything we do."