Nationally, domestic refuse is increasing by about 3% each year – but last year’s figures for Caradon, which is centred on Liskeard, show a 3.5% decrease in waste arisings, with domestic waste falling from 29,158 tonnes in 1999/2000 to 27,764 tonnes in 2001/02. The district's recycling rate stands at 12.5%, or 18.5% including bottle banks run by the county council, and it is the only Cornish district to reduce household waste three years in a row.
Richard Isbell, public services manager for the district council, explained that kerbside collection is popular with householders: “this has had a major impact on the household waste stream.” The scheme, which runs in partnership with the Cornwall Paper Company, is expected to bring more success as it is extended to new villages in the area.
Residents use the garden waste collection scheme extensively, despite the charge of 50p per sack. Last year more than 1,000 tonnes of hedge trimmings and grass clippings were made into mulch for farmland by WH Bond and Sons.
Mr Isbell stressed the project's success is down to public effort, rather than high council spending: “It's been very much done on a shoe-string, but we have been trying to educate the public about waste minimisation. However, it is important that we get across the message that we are not resting on our laurels and we want to increase our recycling percentage even further.”
Caradon Councillor Ivor Nichols, who holds the sustainability portfolio, praised the enthusiasm of local residents for waste reduction.
“This achievement is due in a very large part to the people living in the district,” he said, “It's local people's willingness to use the schemes that makes them a success.”
Waste from mechanical road sweeping is also recycled and composted for soil conditioner and land cover: in 2001/02, 785 tonnes were used.
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