Lib Dems keep options open for future of City's waste (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems keep options open for future of City's waste

May 24, 2006 6:01 PM

Cllr Andrew Waller (City of York Council Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability) has today said that options for the future of the City's waste must be kept open.

Cllr Andrew Waller said "All options are being left open in the North Yorkshire Waste Strategy, but my preferred solution for York's waste remains a mix of waste minimization, high recycling rates and a Mechanical Biological Treatment plant which separates waste and produces compost.

"The council has set a high recycling rate of 36% for this year, and hopes to bring 'kerbside collections' to the remaining 10% of properties not yet included. We will also be looking at the collection of new materials to further reduce items going to landfill."

The Waste Strategy sets minimum targets for recycling across North Yorkshire, but the Lib Dems will set higher targets for York as they believe the city can do much more. Any increase in recycling helps the Council to avoid landfill tax penalties, which are a huge drain on the Council's resources at £35 per tonne for all waste within the quota, and £150 per tonne for anything above that limit.

Increased recycling is also important in order to reduce York's ecological footprint over the long term.

The waste contract included within this strategy will not be awarded until 2008. All residents of York will be able to comment on the choice of technology before the end of this year.

However, uncertainties about the Waste Strategy remain, and can only be resolved by decisions made by the government.

Cllr Andrew Waller said "Output from any waste separation and composting facility - an MBT plant - must either be allowed to be used as compost, or be classified by DEFRA as being 'inert'. If the government does not allow either of these two options, otherwise a local authority must still pay the huge landfill fines to dispose of it. Therefore, in order for an MBT plant to be practical, the government must classify the output as inert. If the government does not do this, then an MBT plant could become unaffordable, as there would be no landfill savings to offset the cost of the plant itself.

"Another risk is that no company will be willing to build and run an MBT facility at a price available within the Council's budget.

"It has been necessary to work in partnership with other neighbouring authorities, as the costs of 'going it alone' are enormous. Working within the partnership should deliver much better value for money."