Councillor Justin Tomlinson with Mayor, Councillor Peter Stoddart
Opening The New Re-cycling Site
A new recycling plant for household waste will be crucial to Swindon meeting its recycling targets, according to Councillor Justin Tomlinson.
The lead member for Swindon Services was speaking at the opening of the new facility in Darby Close.
Swindon currently recycles 16 per cent of its household waste. The Government has ordered the council to increase this to 36 per cent by the end of next year.
"The new plant will be crucial to getting the recycling targets on track," said Coun Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads).
"Its modern facilities will allow us to adapt to increasing targets and we now have the space to add extra facilities.
"You can't force people but you need to provide opportunities for them to recycle efficiently."
The facility at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate is larger and more accessible than its Barnfield Road predecessor. It is expected to handle more than 20,000 tonnes of household waste each year, half of which will be recycled. Aside from government targets, the facility is also expected to save the council money. Next year, landfill tax increases by £3 per tonne, and the financial interests of the council will be best served by recycling as much waste as it can.
Items that can be recycled include newspaper and cardboard, green garden waste, glass bottles and jars, bric-a-brac, textiles, books, old electrical items and fridges.
Evening Advertiser 30/07/04