WAVERLEY Council has taken steps to explain the changes being made to the borough's refuse collection service next year, after being accused by its Conservative minority group of turning the issue into a PR disaster. In a statement this week, the council moved to address the concerns and misconceptions that the Tories claimed had gone answered. In a statement it announced that "detailed plans to help local residents recycle and reduce their household waste while safeguarding the borough's beautiful environment for future generations are being drawn up". In July, councillors approved proposals to introduce the kerbside collection of plastics and the alternate weekly collection of recyclable materials and residual waste. These changes will be phased in gradually from April next year and all households will receive detailed information well in advance of when their phase begins, said the statement. Householders will also be offered assistance by a team of staff dedicated to ensuring any questions, problems or concerns are quickly and effectively dealt with. Shortly before their phase begins, each household will receive an extra container to hold their recyclable plastics. This will be in addition to the recycling containers residents already have for cans and aerosols; newspapers, magazines and junk mail and glass jars and bottles. Elderly residents, or those who are less able to manoeuvre the different containers, will receive an assisted collections service. Victor Scrivens, Waverley's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "Between now and April we are making careful preparations to ensure the transition to alternate weekly collections will be as smooth as possible. "It's clear that most people support Waverley in its objective to improve recycling and protect the environment. However, we do understand that some may have worries about exactly how the new system will work in practice. "Waverley strongly believes that the introduction of alternate weekly collections is the best step forward to increase the amount of waste that is recycled and reduce the amount that goes to landfill. "This system of refuse collection has already been introduced by more than 100 local authorities across England, including our neighbouring districts of East Hants and Mole Valley, and has proved fundamental in helping other councils to increase their recycling rates. "Since we introduced a policy of one bin per household last year, Waverley residents have worked tremendously hard to help the council recycle more than 10,000 tonnes of household waste and I congratulate them for that. "However, we are all becoming increasingly aware that we all need to do more to safeguard the environment. Meeting the government's clear target that all local authorities should be recycling at least 30 per cent of household waste by 2007/8, the equivalent of recycling at least another 5,000 tonnes of rubbish, is a target that is easily achievable if we all play our part. "While Waverley will still be collecting waste every week this new system will give people the opportunity to recycle, much more easily than at present. I also hope that the new system will help us all to look more carefully at what we buy, with a view to reducing the amount we need to throw away." In further efforts to ensure the smooth introduction of alternate weekly collections, Waverley is working with neighbouring authorities that have already phased in a similar service to benefit from their experience. In addition, Waverley councillors will also have the opportunity to take part in a trial so that they can personally experience the service before it is offered to residents.
