SOLIHULL MP SLAMS 'WOEFULLY INADEQUATE' RECYCLING PROVISION

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Feb 2007

Lorely Burt MP with just some of the plastic cartons and bottles stacked up outside the overflowing waste container at Tudor Grange Car Park off Monkspath Hall Road, Solihull

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt has slammed Solihull Council's latest attempt to boost recycling in the borough as "woefully inadequate".

The Conservative controlled council introduced three bring sites for recycling plastics amidst a fanfare of publicity at the end of January, but the Solihull MP received complaints that the facilities were inadequate in the first few weeks of operation, and had written to the Cabinet Member responsible, Councillor Bell to enquire how the council planned to expand the scheme.

"Within the first few days I used the Tudor Grange Car Park site and it was already full. When I turned up this morning (Monday) to recycle my plastic waste, I was confronted with a sea of plastic bottles and cartons that had been stacked up and left around the container which was stuffed full.

"I spoke to several people who were annoyed and frustrated because they had to drive to the site to recycle, only to find the facility overflowing. I simply don't know how many people turned round and drove away, taking their recycling back home with them to add to the general waste after burning yet more fuel to get there and back.

"The place looked like a landfill site and it just goes to illustrate that you can't provide for plastic waste from 88,000 households in the borough with a metal container at just three collection sites.

"There is a clear desire from residents in Solihull to recycle, but ultimately the only way to do it efficiently is by doorstep collections. In the meantime, the Council must look at providing more sites with more frequent collections to make sure they remain useable."