Earlier this month, the Stroud News & Journal claimed that it had spoken to residents of the Gloucestershire council who were all “under the impression” that waste was not being disposed of in this way.
But, speaking to letsrecycle.com last week, Carlos Novoth, public space manager at the council, explained that it was true that bags of garden waste did go to landfill but said that the council had always made this clear to residents.
He insisted: “It has always been acknowledged that the small amount of compost we collect goes to landfill.”
Mr Novoth said that only a small volume of green waste – a “few hundred tonnes” a year – was collected in the bags and the council could not justify buying a new vehicle for garden waste collection or paying to send it to an industrial composting facility.
Charges
The council charges residents who use the collection service 60 pence for each bag they use and residents are not allowed to put green waste in the black sacks used for residual waste, despite it being collected in the same vehicle.
Mr Novoth added: “By law we have to put a garden waste collection scheme in under controlled waste regulations, so we put in a pre-paid scheme.”
He said the charge was in place to cover the extra costs of garden waste collection, such as bag production, and to encourage residents to use the other composting schemes the council supports.
And, Mr Novoth explained that the council tries to discourage residents using the green waste collection service as much as possible as it believes home and community composting schemes are more sustainable.
He said: “The bias is always to treat materials that can be treated at home as close to the source as possible. We are concentrating on waste diversion.”
Efficient
The council does not believe garden waste collection is the most efficient method of composting and instead “actively promotes” home and community composting schemes.
It also supports home and community composting by helping to set up community-based facilities and sending out a mobile shredder all over the district. And, until recently it also took advantage of the WRAP home compost bin subsidy scheme, which is due to end in September this year (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mr Novoth said: “We are currently in talks with the county council to find out what we can do to replace the WRAP scheme.”
LARAC
Mark Foxall, policy officer at the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee, told letsrecycle.com it was up to individual councils to choose the best green waste recycling options for the area.
He said: “It's down to local authorities to determine the service they offer as they know the local situation. In this case charging for bags is pushing garden waste up the waste hierarchy by encouraging the householder to treat it at home.”
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