Consequences of waste collection has been thought through

Firstly, residents will have no more waste containers than they have at present; a green bin for a much larger range of recyclates including cardboard, a black bin for residual waste, a box for glass bottles and jars (yes, glass will be collected from the kerbside when the new Joint Waste Contract is launched in Rother on 30 June next year) and, if residents elect to have their garden waste collected, a brown bin for garden waste. If you do not want a “giant” (240 litres) bin you can have a smaller, 140 litres brown bin.

Of course, garden waste collection service is entirely optional; if residents do not wish to pay £25 per year they can either compost their garden waste or take it to a household waste recycling centre. I would point out that six years ago residents bought a brown bag for garden waste collection from the District Council for £1 each, much the same price that will be charged next year. I wonder how many other services are sold today at the same price as six years ago?

Cllr. Bantick fears that there this charge will cause an increase in fly tipping. The numerous other local authorities throughout the country who charge for this service, including Hastings which has charged £40 p.a. for the last few years, have found no evidence of increased fly tipping.

Finally, Cllr Bantick wonders if Rother has thought out the consequences of this new arrangement. As it will save taxpayers in East Sussex some £3 million per year the answer is a resounding yes.

Cllr. Tony Ganly

Vice-chairman – Joint Waste Committee, Rother District Council