In an inspection report published this week, the Audit Commission praised the Merseyside borough's recycling centres but said that delays in expanding its kerbside collection means it will not meet its statutory target to recycle 12%of household waste until later this year.
Julian Farmer, Audit Commission relationship manager, said of Wirral's Streetscene service: “The council's progress in achieving recycling targets has been slow but is improving. It will not achieve its 2003/04 target of 12% until later in 2004 when the expansion of kerbside collection to multi-material begins.”
Wirral borough council collects waste from 140,000 households and currently provides a fortnightly kerbside paper collection across the borough.
But the commission reported that this year the council will start mixed recyclables and green waste collections and has invested 700,000 in additional vehicles, boxes and bags for the pilot schemes. Wirral also plans to spend a further 1.7 million to expand the kerbside recycling scheme borough-wide.
The Commission said that Wirral has been making slow progress on its kerbside schemes and recycling programmes. The report explained: “The delay has been due, in part, to past uncertainty regarding the construction of the materials reclamation facility (MRF) within the borough and discussions with the MWDA over its financing. This has now been resolved and a successful bid for DEFRA funding is enabling operation of the facility within the next two years.”
The Streetscene service, which covers highway maintenance and street cleaning as well as waste management, was rated by the Commission as two-star (out of a possible three) with promising prospects for improvement.
Wirral borough council should continue working with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) and other Merseyside councils on a long term waste strategy, the Commission recommended.
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