News in Brief

Caerphilly county borough council has launched a prize draw this month to encourage residents to use its kerbside collection.

The council runs a fortnightly green box collection for glass, newspaper, magazines, plastic, cans, textiles, engine oil and filters. To enter the monthly prize draw residents must make sure their house number and street name are written clearly on their green box and that it is placed on the kerbside by 8.00 am on the collection day on at least 22 of the 26 collections this year.

The monthly prizes include 500 worth of high street vouchers, recycled product hampers, electrical appliances and even a car.

Councillor Kevin Viney said: “Public participation is essential to the scheme's continued success. Recycling not only reduces the amount of waste that is disposed in landfill sites it also includes benefits such as reduced demand for raw materials, energy savings in production demands and reduced emissions. These benefits make a considerable contribution to the environment we live in.”

The Environment Agency has warned companies in the North West that burning waste is illegal and could lead to fines or jail time.

The Agency has begun a campaign to make companies aware of the legal risks they take if they choose to burn their waste rather than use an authorised waste management company.

Agency spokesperson Jo Bradley said: “When we investigate illegal waste fires, site operators often claim they don't know about the law, but ignorance is no excuse and we do prosecute offenders.”

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, those who burn waste at a commercial site risk fines of up to 20,000 or six months in prison.

Slough borough council's recycling and street scene service has improved over the past year but still has some problems to overcome, according to Audit Commission inspectors.

When the service was inspected in August 2002 it received a 'poor' one star rating, but on re-inspection this year, the Commission recognised the council had made some progress and now provides a &#39fa;ir' service with 'promising prospect for improvement'.

Steven Shuttleworth, senior manager at the Audit Commission, said: “We judged the service as fair because there has been improvement in many areas, and we commend the council on this. But there are still some important issues to tackle.”

The report particularly praised Slough council's 15-year recycling contract with Slough Accord, which was signed after the inspection last year.

Mr Shuttleworth said: “The council entered into an innovative and ambitious long–term partnership with a private sector company to provide the street scene and recycling service in December 2002. The council and its partner have clear plans to address the current weaknesses in the service and we judge the prospects for further improvements to be promising.”