Mike Johnston will promote the green box recycling scheme, encourage the use of local recycling banks, advise residents on the correct use of wheelie bins and help them with issues of waste minimisation.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “The people of Newport recycle and compost 12% but this needs to improve significantly if we are to meet government targets. Up to 85 per cent of what we put in our bins doesn’t have to be there and my aim is to educate residents about the importance of recycling.”
The council aims to have half of household rubbish recycled by 2006 in order to meet National Assembly targets. Its kerbside scheme includes 50,000 households.
Cabinet member for sustainable development Graham Dally said the council’s research showed that residents were willing to support recycling so long as participation was made simple, and that Mr Johnston’s appointment would help in this.
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