Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Council carried out a public consultation on the draft waste strategy, which showed that the majority of residents wanted a kerbside collection of recyclable materials to be introduced. The strategy outlines how the council aims to double the amount of household waste recycled by 2003 and increase it to 60% by 2020.
Over 255,000 homes were sent a questionnaire and the findings will help draw up a waste strategy for the district. The council predicts that unless action is taken, up to 26 new waste treatment facilities will be needed in the region to cope with waste disposal in the future.
The council asked the public for their opinions on the strategy and an analysis of over 14,000 responses showed that nearly 70% were in favour of a kerbside collection, 65% of respondents were in favour of an integrated treatment system either thermal treatment with energy recovery or a biogas plant and 18% favoured incineration.
Bernard Warr, strategy co-ordinator, said. “The normal route is to prepare a strategy, come up with some options and then consult with the public. But we thought it was important to get the public’s view first and let that guide how the strategy is prepared.”
He added: “What is clear is that if a recycling and composting rate approaching 60% by 2020 is to be achieved, then there will need to be an expansion of kerbside collection of recycling materials, both in terms of coverage and type. Similarly, for those properties that are not suitable for multi-container waste storage (i.e. those with no front gardens, terraced properties), then there needs to be a provision of neighbourhood “bring” recycling sites so that no-one has to use a vehicle to recycle their waste.”
A response document outlining the findings of the survey will be published in September. The strategy will be approved and adopted before a formal launch next March.
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