Councils Save Money on Waste.
- 26 November 2009 08:4833916DDC Release....******
EAST KENT JOINT WASTE PROJECT
A project that would bring changes to waste and recycling collections, reduce costs and increase recycling rates in East Kent has reached another milestone.
The Joint Services Waste Project involves Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet Councils working on a ground-breaking partnership with Kent County Council. It would introduce common collection arrangements for waste and recycling in all four districts over the next four years - starting in Dover District and Shepway in October 2010.
The aim is to provide improved services at a lower cost and increase recycling rates. The project predicts savings of up to £1.5 million across the four districts and the County Council each year from 2013, with the recycling rate in East Kent predicted to reach or exceed an average of 48%.
The joint waste project was given the green light today (25 November) by the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee, made up of lead Councillors from each of the four Councils. The proposals must now go to each Council for formal approval.
Proposals include providing weekly collections of food waste, with fortnightly collections of recyclables and household waste, and include the use of wheeled bins.
The waste and recycling proposals are part of a wider East Kent shared services project, which aims to provide cost effective services across East Kent and make the best possible use of the Councils' resources and staff expertise.
DDC Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste and Planning, Cllr Nicholas Kenton, said: "Everyone is aware of the financial pressures on Councils at the moment, and we believe the East Kent shared services project will be a significant contributor in helping us make savings. The waste project should allow us to deliver a more effective service to householders in Dover District, and to continue to recycle more, improve street cleanliness, and protect the environment for the future."email: dover7@msn.com - 26 November 2009 20:4233949a little bit vague on the subject of "the use of wheeled bins".
fortnightly collection of recyclables and household waste?
food and household waste will inevitably get mixed in, result =rats.
all this to save 1.5 million over the whole of east kent, hardly worth it.
i thought that the proposed incoming blue government was all into localisation?
surely this would mean giving more money to local councils?
they would not need to make such a small cost saving if this is to be the case. - 27 November 2009 08:3833970Im trying to remember off the top of my head but wasnt there another amalgamation of services announced a while back too, with the same councils involved. Quite clearly as we have seen on another thread re the public toilets, the DDCouncil are trying to make their local pound go as far as possible and according to some reports have run out of money. Hence their diversification from the old core service route. Some local Town Councils are stepping up to the plate and taking more on...as we have seen with the Sandwich loo situation.
This is of course will mean a rise in rates from the Town Councils, inevitable...but not a rise from the District Council although I think they are allowed an annual increase. 3% has been mooted. PaulW would of course know tons more than me.email: dover7@msn.com - 27 November 2009 09:2333972You've hit the nail on the head Howard, there are some people who will never seperate food waste from household waste. We will be overrun with Rats and I'm sure it will cost a lot more than £1.5 million to clear up the damage that they wreak
- 3 December 2009 20:1134289looks like councillor gordon cowan agrees.
according to the local press today gordon and our paul w clashed over this very thing.
the amalgamation paul mentions in post 3 was the "white cliffs careline" or something that sounds very similar. - 4 December 2009 11:4134330So right Posh Barry and Howard,partnership working it is called,as far as the waste goes if the food waste goes into the green bags 1 week in 2 that seems to be the idea.Problem is that only 65% of the district gets a green waste collection.About the rats we created about this and it comes up before Scruity again,the next problem is all the charges are about to go up as well.If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
- 4 December 2009 13:1734345I've never really understood food waste. I was bought up never to waste food, and with the price of food these days I'm surprised that people can afford to waste it. The only thing that we ever have spare is the odd crust of bread and that goes out for the birds.......True friends stab you in the front.
- 4 December 2009 18:0034369we live in the throw away society andy, don';t forget that people bulk buy nowadays and inevitably they end up with out of date stock in their cupboards.
in times past the lady of the house did the daily shop and purchased only that was likely to be consumed the same day.
the other issue that worries me is that tins with the residue of baked beans, sardines, dog food etc will be left to rot for up to 2 weeks.
my understanding is that the rat population outnumbers the human population as it is.