Conservatives Play Politics Over Green Bin Charges

1.08.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Jul 2008

A motion put forward by Councillor Ann Blacklock (Liberal Democrat, Kenilworth Abbey), asking the Executive to reconsider the new charge of £30 for a second green recycling bin, was heavily defeated at a meeting of Warwick District Council on Wednesday evening. The Conservatives administration chose to treat it as a 'political' motion and attacked it vehemently, though mostly inaccurately.

In fact the issue is a small but annoying anomaly, which could easily be resolved.

Until April this year , Kenilworth residents could put out unlimited bags of garden waste with their green bin, and they could put out two green bins if they had them, as some people had managed to get a second FREE green bin. Since April, no extra bags of garden waste are allowed, because of the design of the new waste vehicles. However, a second green bin to cope with what used to go into the bags, will now cost you £30.

Cllr. Blacklock said afterwards:

"So a service that was free, is no longer free. Note that you can have unlimited numbers of red boxes and red bags for free!

People who object to this new policy are making even more trips in their cars to the facility at Cherry Orchard, which is not a very green option, is it?

"The vote at the Council meeting on Wednesday shows the Conservatives' waste scheme remains inconsistent, incompetent and unfair."