WOLVERHAMPTON – WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH

 12-07-2007

This website has questioned Birmingham's record on recycling and raised questions about Sandwell's wheelie bins.  But they are paragons of virtue compared to Wolverhampton.

It’s been revealed this week that the city has no immediate plans to start a kerbside collection of either plastics or cardboard.

Paper, glass and tins are taken away with the refuse, so why not these other two common waste streams?  Well, according to a report seen by councillors this week, it would cost £500,000 to fund the additional service.

That might sound like a lot of dosh, but according to The Stirrer’s moles it’s a simple question of money. 

Like a number of local authorities, Wolvo has a municipal incinerator that uses waste to generate electricity, and plastic is one of the best accelerants you can find.  It is a vital part of the mix.

In other words, the city is locked into a system of encouraging its citizens to throw away as much plastic as possible.

That’s why a trial kerbside collection scheme promised for April this year and seen as a prelude to a roll out across the city never took place.

Ironically, kerbside collections of plastic are seen as being one of the most effective ways of encouraging public participation.