At the same time, local papers in the county have pointed out that energy from waste may be needed if residents and businesses do not recycle enough. The reports are based on comments by county councillor Brian Johnson who has emphasised that while the strategy is for increased recycling and composting, it will be reviewed in 2005.
Local campaign group Arrow are arguing against any energy from waste plant being built, with Skelmersdale seen as a potential site.
The work on waste minimisation sees community groups invited to “Talk Rubbish” with the county.
The new Waste Minimisation Team is offering help to groups
to establish projects to reduce, reuse or recycle rubbish and will hold a community recycling conference on Tuesday October 30, at County Hall in Preston.
Cllr Brian Johnson, cabinet member for community and
regeneration, said: “The community holds the key to the waste problem. That is why we are asking groups that already have schemes in place, or that want to develop new
projects, to collect recyclable materials from households to talk with us.
Our experience and expertise combined with their enthusiasm can pay real
dividends for the environment.
Waste minimisation project officer, Clare Atkinson explained:
“We are keen to hear from anyone in Lancashire interested in setting up
projects that look to reduce, reuse or recycle rubbish in their local
environment. The Waste Minimisation Team can offer advice about funding,
business plans, working with local councils, involving local communities and
what works elsewhere.”
Lancashire strategy
The waste minimisation work comes within the county strategy which aims to reduce landfill dependency from 82% to 23% of the county's waste by 2020:
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By 2020 over 1 million tonnes of waste per year must be either removed from the waste-stream, recycled or composted.
- In the immediate future the target for Lancashire is to recycle or compost 40% of its waste by 2005 and 56% by 2015.
The strategy aims to reach a point by 2005 where nearly every household in Lancashire will be provided with a segregated waste collection service for items such as garden waste, recyclable materials such as paper, glass and cans at home. And, district councils have an extra incentive to set up new schemes with the county council raising the credit payment level from the current 26 per tonne to 42 per tonne for collection and recycling.”
Cllr Johnson, recently outlined the importance of recycling and composting with regard to energy from waste.
“We have had the courage to grasp this difficult issue and take a decision that will radically alter the way we deal with our waste for the better. But the strategy needs to be adopted by not only the county council, but district councils and every householder and business in Lancashire. We need to be meeting these tough targets for recycling when we review the situation in 2005, and that means we need to start now.
“There has been a lot of talk and speculation about us adopting a waste to energy – more commonly recognised as incineration – approach. I want to clarify the real position. If we do not meet the tough recycling targets we have set by 2005 then we will have to consider every option. I hope we can avoid having to burn our rubbish but there is no easy answer to the waste problem.”
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