SANDWELL RUBBISH – BIN THERE, DONE THAT

20-05-2008

Sandwell Council has outlined ambitious plans to slash the amount of waste it sends to landfill from 65% to just 5% - while admitting it will take more than a decade to achieve the target. The drawback for staff is that bin collection and waste management is set to be privatised.

Recycling in the borough has already shown dramatic improvement in recent years – up from 9% three years ago to 26% in 2007/08.

To maintain the momentum, next month’s Cabinet meeting is expected to approve a decision to invite firms across the EU to bid for collections, recycling and composting, treatment facilities and street cleaning.

Council bosses insist that although the work is being put out to tender, staff will be properly looked after during their transfer to the private sector.

They have also pledged to maintain weekly collections, and promise there’ll be no “chip in bin” system to monitor householders’ performance.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods & housing said, "For Sandwell to achieve its future recycling targets of at least 50% and avoid hefty penalties, we need to make big changes to the way we currently operate. Doing nothing is just not an option.

"Over the past year, we have taken forward the waste improvement plan we agreed last July and have been exploring all the options and scenarios.

"We ultimately expect our plan to cut the amount of waste sent to landfill from around 65% now to less than 5% in 2020, which is good news for everyone.

"What's important is having an affordable, high quality service for Sandwell residents."