Lincolnshire slammed for “long term neglect of its waste management”

The Audit Commission gave the council no stars, and described its service as “poor with poor prospects of improvement”.

The council has been set targets by the government for recycling and composting at 20% by 2003-04 and 30% by 2005-06. However, according to the Audit Commission report, there has been no increase in the recycling and composting rate of 12% in the last three years, and statutory targets will not be met on time.

Commenting on the report's findings, Audit Commission Central Region director Andy Walford said: “I am very concerned about Lincolnshire's long term neglect of its waste management service. It has failed local people and has not done enough to respond to the need to reduce household waste and promote recycling.”

Inspectors said that civic amenity sites in Lincolnshire are not well managed and do not encourage users to recycle

Audit commission inspectors said the council's recently-adopted Municipal Waste Management Strategy provides a general framework for the development of waste management, but does not plan adequately for the necessary treatment and disposal facilities and the associated funding required.

The growth in waste in Lincolnshire is about twice the national average, but the Commission said that there are few initiatives in the county to raise awareness and educate the public in waste management issues. It also said that civic amenity sites in Lincolnshire are not well managed and do not encourage users to recycle.

The county council is currently preparing a statement in response to the inspectors' criticisms, but speaking to letsrecycle.com, Lincolnshire's waste services manager Martyn Hands said: “As an organisation, we accept the findings of the Audit Commission report.”