The great waste debate

The questions were tabled by group leader Cllr Sue Prochak to the council's waste working party on Wednesday.

Among other points, she is demanding to know what penalty action Rother is taking over the way kerbside recycling is being implemented.

The LibDem leader says the alternate weekly collection system continues to suffer severe difficulties.

"As LibDems on Rother, we are so upset at the way the new system has been implemented.

"As a minority party on the council we have been pressing Rother's ruling Conservatives to introduce recycling for many years.

"Now they have finally been forced to do something through legislation, they have introduced a minimal system for collecting recyclables, but with drastic changes in the service, with several hundred residents unable to participate.

"Many residents ask what is the point when they already recycle what is offered for collection. I have yet to meet one resident who is not in favour of recycling.

"Even thought the new system is minimal, there is still much confusion with the massive changeover to alternate weekly collections and I am reporting residents' problems on a daily basis when we are over a month into the new system and over three months into the new contract.

"I am ashamed and frustrated to be a Rother Councillor listening to the distress and justifiable anger of many residents about what is the Council's key service. Our excellent bin men who've only had praise in the past are suffering and made their protest as a last resort.

"I know from researching those councils who are successful in collecting recyclables, that their success is through making it simple and easy for residents. We have a long way to go on Rother to achieve this, but Lib Dems are committed to working constructively to deliver a workable system."