Lib Dems split over alternate weekly collections controversy

Maggots

The policy of waste collection on a fortnightly basis rather than weekly continues to be highly controversial.

For months both Labour and Conservative Councillors have opposed the scheme, pointing out in particular the problems of rotting food, smelly waste, and the risk of infestation and rodents, especially in warm weather.

Labour Councillor Susan Emmott has been vociferous in her opposition asking why other Councils, such as Stockport, have been able to retain weekly collections and still hit the Government targets.

Wera Hobhouse, the Lib Dem Cabinet member on Rochdale Council in charge of the Environment and Sustainability has been dogged in her championing of the scheme. It is her conviction that the scheme represents the only way that the Council can avoid heavy Government fines for not hitting recycling targets.

Despite the positive 'spin' put out in council media releases about the acceptance at the current 'Recycling Road Shows':

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/News/news.asp?ID=3407

The first signs of disagreement within the ruling Lib Dem Group have surfaced, Lib Dem Councillors in Heywood voting for a resolution at the Heywood Township meeting that:

• The pilot alternative weekly collection of household waste be ended and that the weekly collection of household waste in Heywood be continued.

Councillor Emmott said: "It was good to see that opposition to fortnightly bin collections is growing and now gaining more all party support - this resolution was passed unanimously by all the Heywood councillors, including Liberal Democrat Councillors Peter Rush and Doreen Brophy-Lee.

"I believe this now shows that even members of the controlling Liberal Democrat Group are having doubts about the feasibility of the fortnightly bin collections and therefore, I believe that the whole issue needs to be looked at again. I do hope the Liberal Democrat leadership will take note of this growing opposition."

In her Rochdale Online Councillor Diary:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/News/councillor_diary.asp?cID=82&ID=360

Councillor Hobhouse says in response: "Under the new devolved powers to Townships, Heywood councillors receive money from the overall Council budget, and can spend it according to their own wishes. In this case, Heywood has the opportunity to prioritise this spending. It can add to the Council’s alternate landfill and recycling bin collection by paying the extra cost of a further landfill bin collection.

"I expect Heywood Township to now get quotes from various waste collection companies. It may cost around £150,000, so I will be interested to hear what other Heywood devolved budgets they will cut."

Heywood Township Chairman Colin Lambert said: "Councillor Hobhouse has missed the point, weekly collections of household waste does not increase the amount of waste going to landfill, it simply means that the waste is collected weekly and not left to rot on peoples drives or doorsteps.

"Weekly waste collections do not interfere with recycling."

Councillor Lambert added: "The Daily Express dated 22 May (page 6) quotes the Chartered Institute of Waste Management Lib Dem member Martin Horwood, the man in charge of Bexley council bin collections, saying food waste should be collected at least once a week.

"Mr Horwood said: 'this underlines the public health concerns about the whole issue. We have to collect food every week.'"