Kent community recycling scheme WyeCycle claims it is being killed off by the Mid Kent Joint Waste Partnerships long term waste collection contract, due to start next month.
WyeCycle is currently subcontracted by Ashford council the borough with Englands lowest recycling rate – to carry out recycling services to residents in the parishes of Wye and Brook including collections of recyclables, composting and furniture reuse.
In total the scheme is used by 1,200 of Ashfords 52,000 households.
But, according to WyeCycle managing director Richard Boden, who founded the project in 1989, the 8.6 million waste contract awarded to waste services firm Biffa last year on behalf of Ashford, Maidstone and Swale borough councils (see letsrecycle.com story), is likely to force the scheme to shut down.
He said: Things are getting desperate. Weve repeatedly tried to talk to the council but they just wont listen. Weve also tried talking to Biffa, the councils new waste contractor and they are not interested either.
They could easily subcontract Wye and Brook to us its nothing to them. Whatever happened to localism? They are killing off a highly successful community enterprise for no reason.
Mr Boden added that the new contract will result in the loss of three jobs, financial support for village events and the end of a furniture reuse scheme.
Savings
However, Ashford has argued that it could not afford to continue to support the WyeCycle scheme, and that the new collection system will result in significant savings for the council and increases in recycling rates across the borough.
The council also denied claims that it had not conducted discussions with WyeCycle over continuing the service.
‘WyeCycle has provided a commendable service, and we have been very pleased to work with them and to financially support them over the years.’
Cllr. Jessamy Blanford, Ashford borough council
Ashfords portfolio holder for environment councillor, Jessamy Blanford, said: Contrary to Mr Bodens comments, Ashford borough council has engaged in an open dialogue with WyeCycle, and has listened to all proposals put forward. The fact that we have declined to take up his offer is not an indication that we have not listened, but that his proposals were not suitable.
We are fully aware of the low level of recycling that has been achieved across the borough to date. This is why we undertook a comprehensive review of our recycling strategy.
This culminated in the award to Biffa of the joint recycling and street cleansing contract, which we expect to deliver recycling levels well in excess of 40% across the whole borough. In addition, the new contract will save more than 500,000 a year of taxpayers money and will secure more than 60 local jobs for Ashford.
Service
Councillor Blanford also said that the Biffa contract will provide a significantly enhanced service to residents across the borough as well as in Wye and Brook.
She added: WyeCycle has provided a commendable service, and we have been very pleased to work with them and to financially support them over the years. However, we have to consider the needs of all our residents in the borough including the majority of Wye residents who have not complained about the change of contractors.
We have informed WyeCycle that we would be happy for them to continue their service until the new collections for Wye and Brook being in July, but the organisation has not taken up this offer.
Performance
Ashford borough council recorded the worst recycling rate in England in 2011/12, with a recycling and composting rate of just 14% (see letsrecycle.com story), but residents in Wye and Brook have been able to recycle up to 70% of their waste according to WyeCycle a figure that is disputed by the council.
At present, Ashford provides weekly collections of residual waste in black sacks and kerbside recycling box collections for two thirds of households for paper, cans and glass. The new contract begins next month, and is due to be rolled out across the borough from July.
The joint collection deal is intended to increase recycling rates above 40% and will see Biffa carry out alternate weekly collections of residual waste and dry recyclables, alongside a weekly food waste collection service and chargeable green waste collections.
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