In late 2010 council members voted to remove its funding for recycling banks on commercial premises, due to what it called the excellent coverage of kerbside recycling that residents of Cornwall now receive. The funding had covered uplift and collection costs.
This change was communicated to the supermarkets where the council had been funding recycling banks. And, retailers such as Tesco, Morrisons and Asda then came to private arrangements with the contractors which own and service banks to maintain them – Cornwall Cullet and DS Smith Recycling (formerly Severnside Recycling).
The council praised this move and said it would save taxpayers over 200,000 a year.
Removal
However, Sainsburys decided that it would not go down this route and now the banks at five stores are to be removed. Banks provided by the Salvation Army and Oxfam will be retained.
Yesterday, (February 28) Cornwall expressed its disappointment at the decision and is now urging residents to take up the issue directly with Sainsburys, by emailing Clinton Sprague, Sainsburys Energy and Environment representative.
Julian German, Cornwall council cabinet member for the environment, said: Cornwall council wishes to express disappointment at the removal of the recycling banks from Sainsburys as negotiations with the other major supermarkets and contractors have meant that recycling facilities are still offered elsewhere.
The dispute raises interesting questions over where responsibility for paying for the collection of recyclables should lie. This is particularly pertinent in light of the waste policy review, which is expected to promote voluntary producer responsibility deals over more stringent legislative measures.
Sainsburys
Responding to Cornwalls comments, a Sainsburys spokesperson stressed that funding had been removed for the banks because materials were now collected at the kerbside. However, it said that it would listen to feedback from residents.
He told letsrecycle.com: Cornwall council has made a decision to withdraw recycling banks from car parks throughout the county, as it wishes to encourage the use of its kerbside collection service instead.
We have informed our customers of this change to Cornwall councils policy, and will of course listen to feedback over the next few months as this new system for recycling takes effect.
The Severnside banks in Cornwall are for paper and card, while the Cornwall Cullet banks are for plastics, cans and mixed glass.
Funding from the council is still being provided for the remainder of recycling banks that are not on commercial premises throughout the county. A review is currently taking place to determine the on-going requirements for recycling banks from April 2012.
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