Bedford backs down in recycling row

The borough has agreed to replace its orange sack recycling service with wheeled bins after being accused by Bedfordshire county council of “dithering” for a year over the £1 million container scheme.

In particular, the county council said that Bedfordshire risked missing landfill diversion targets if Bedford did not switch to the service as other district councils had done, and claimed that the borough authority lacked leadership.

However, Bedford claims that the county council had “forced” it into using them even though not all properties in Bedford could accommodate them, and that when the accusations were levied it had already agreed, describing the county council's claims as “inaccurate, ill-timed and ill-informed.”

Bedford explained that is supported the use of bins but believed that residents should be able to have sacks as well.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com yesterday, a spokesman for Bedford borough council said: “We are working with the county council now and they are purchasing the bins on our behalf and they have agreed to provide plastic sacks in the interim period. The bins will be rolled out fairly imminently depending on when the county council gets them.”

Unitary

The dispute in Bedford comes against the backdrop of wider political differences between Bedford borough and Bedfordshire county councils. In July, the government provisionally approved plans by Bedford borough council to become a unitary authority, which is being fiercely contested by Bedfordshire county council which had unitary ambitions of its own.

Bedford claims that becoming a unitary authority will avoid a duplication of services, and make waste and recycling services more streamlined as both waste collection and disposal will be handled by the same body.

However, Bedfordshire claims that if Bedford becomes a unitary authority services will suffer and that the two remaining Bedfordshire district councils – Mid Bedfordshire council and South Bedfordshire district council – would be forced to form another unitary along boundaries with no historic precedent.

The council has also suggested that Bedford's lack of leadership on recycling makes it unsuitable for unitary status.

Bedfordshire's council leader Madeline Russell said; “Their [Bedford's] bid refers to their excellent performance but on recycling their performance is lamentable … Where is the leadership Bedford needs?”

The government's decision to grant Bedford district council unitary status is now under judicial review and is being considered alongside the viability of creating another unitary authority around the borders of Mid Beds and South Beds councils. A decision is expected in the next two months.