By Cllr Norman Jorgensen
I don’t know about you, but this week has really felt like Summer is threatening to burst forth. As the sun has been popping out, I’ve been shedding coats and jumpers for what seems like the first time in ages.
This got me thinking, what will next Summer be like when the Liberal Democrats’ plan to bring in their new fortnightly bin collections will come into force?
For some with large front gardens or a generous drive, they might not feel much of an impact but those with less space and fewer options will.
We are concerned that larger families, families with young children and disabled people will be hit hard by this change.
We also fear fly tipping and waste dumped in litter bins will increase. The cost to clear up an increase in fly tipping would have serious financial consequences for the Council.
The Liberal Democrats used to feel this way too. In 2018, Liberal Democrats campaigned on a promise to keep weekly bin collections.
Current Liberal Democrat Executive Member Cllr David Hare claimed that pressure from the Liberal Democrats had forced the Conservatives to keep weekly bin collections.
It seems recently the Liberal Democrats have not been keen to talk about this policy with the electorate. Their 2022 election manifesto made no mention of scrapping weekly bin collections.
Curiously during the election campaign this year, they claimed to be retaining weekly collections.
While the collection lorry will still turn up at your house every week, it won’t take all your rubbish as it does now. Weekly general household waste and non-food recycling collections will be scrapped and moved to a fortnightly service.
Their lack of honesty and transparency in their policy just before the election can only be because they knew it was unpopular.
Over the last year we have been campaigning against these changes and we will continue to do so. In February, we brought a petition of 1,800 signatures to the Council and, in March, Conservative councillors and an Independent won a vote to keep weekly bin collection. Yet still the Liberal Democrats, supported by Labour, continue to force through their plan.
Our plan would be to make it easier for residents to recycle and make it possible to recycle more organic matter including pet waste.
People want to recycle, and they want to do the right thing and they care about the environment, the Council should be providing more opportunities and encouraging people to recycle not punishing residents because of their circumstances.
One example of this is caddy liners. The Conservative Group argued that providing free food caddy liners to people who wanted them would make it easier for residents to recycle food waste. Liberal Democrats scrapped them but promised that food recycling rates would increase saving the Council £300,000. As we predicted at the time, food recycling has not increased, and they missed their savings target.
We will continue to argue against fortnightly bin collections.
Scrapping the weekly collections does not guarantee savings or increased recycling.
You can still sign the petition at wokinghamconservatives.org.uk/campaigns/keep-weekly-bin-collections-campaign
Cllr Norman Jorgensen is Conservative ward member for Hawkedon
