Wirral delays 1m recycling investment after funding cuts

Part of the partnership of Merseyside authorities working with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, Wirral collects 137,000 tonnes of waste a year from 141,000 households, currently recycling at a rate of 6.8%.

Most of the council's recycling has been achieved through a blue bag kerbside scheme for 140,000 households, which sends paper to the nearby Shotton paper mill in North Wales.

But after a “tough settlement” from the government this year, the council's Cabinet has decided to only partially implement its planned recycling expansion.

The council's Environment, Cultural and Protective Services funding decreased by 6.3% from 2003-04 to 2004-05. As well as this, the increase in the Landfill Tax to 15 next year will mean an increase in the disposal levy Wirral pays to the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority of 800,000.

As a result, the council will only partially implement its planned 1.7 million cross-borough kerbside recycling expansion, spending 700,000 next year and pushing back the remaining 1 million for 2005-06.

Council spokeswoman Vicki Ward told letsrecycle.com: “The recycling programme has been increased this year with the (environment and transport) committee earmarking over 700,000 for recycling measures. The 1 million is additional money that is not needed at present but will be reinstated for future expansion, such as the two bin collection system which is expected to come on stream in April 2005.”

Savings
A Cabinet report calling for a 4.9 million savings package across the council budget also reveals that a 250,000 saving is to be made in Wirral's paper recycling service by “increased performance and re-negotiation of contract”.

Proposed recycling expansions for 2004-05 include paper collections from communal housing schemes, a 300,000 boost to garden waste collections for 45,000 homes and the collection of cans and glass from 14,000 homes.

Ms Ward said that despite the funding problems, the council expects to meet its 12% statutory target for 2003-04 “month on month from May 2004”.