Lib Dems Demand Answers over New Recycling Contract

Bedfordshire County Council's decision to award a four-year contract for household recycling to be sorted in Milton Keynes instead Elstow has raised many more questions than it answers say Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats. The decision, which has been approved by the new unitary authorities set to assume the County Council's functions from 1st April 2009, was made without any public debate or scrutiny and the Lib Dems are demanding answers to a series of important questions.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Michael Headley will seek those answers at tonight's Implementation Executive meeting. Commenting on the issue, Cllr Headley said: "Recycling works best as a genuine partnership between local residents and the council. In line with this, it is essential that important decisions such as this one are not kept secret, so that any issues of concern can be openly addressed.'

"In this case, unfortunately, everything has been done behind closed doors. A result of this is that a number of very serious questions remain unanswered. These include the issue of transporting waste across county borders. This could make it more difficult to oppose on similar grounds the outrageous proposal for Buckinghamshire's waste to be exported to Stewartby and burnt in a giant incinerator. Furthermore, additional transport obviously carries an environmental cost, as well as further congestion on our roads.'

"The complete absence of any debate or scrutiny of this decision also leaves us with major question marks over the company the council will be relying upon to sort household recycling. One of the few things we do know about Community Waste Ltd is that they were fined £30,000 for trying to send contaminated recycling to India. Local residents deserve a guarantee that this will not happen with domestic recycling collected here.'

"Community Waste Ltd's own contract to operate the Milton Keynes plant is due to expire shortly. If Community Waste loses the re-tendered contract to run the plant, where does that leave us? Will the new plant operator take on the contract to sort Bedfordshire's recycling, and if so at what cost? There may be perfectly reasonable answers to all of these questions, but the fact that such an important decision has been taken before anyone knows the answers is not acceptable."