Labour calls a halt to Oxford's recycling revolution

10.42.00am GMT Fri 7th Nov 2008

Lib Dems led Oxford to a doubling of recycling rates

Oxford's former Lib Dem administration doubled the recycling rate in Oxford in the two years up to May of this year, achieving around 40% in some months. The minority Labour administration which took over in May has allowed things to slide relentlessly backwards, and has now decided to scrap a weekly food waste collection pilot which the Lib Dems had built into the Council's budget.

Said Lib Dem group spokesman Cllr Chris Scanlan: "People in Oxford have been determined to work with the Council to improve recycling levels significantly. It has been difficult for us all, but the improvements over the last two years have made it worthwhile. The next stage was to go for a separate food waste collection, which would have reduced the amounts going to landfill still further."

Cllr Scanlan explained: "The biggest problem for many residents has been having to store food waste for up to two weeks. The Lib Dem plan was to move to a weekly collection for food, composting it separately for use in the form of fertilisers. This would have delivered a double benefit: helping residents and also helping the environment. It is interesting that other Councils in Oxfordshire are now announcing that they will do this too, at the very moment that Labour in Oxford is deciding to backtrack."

Recycling rates in Oxford under Labour's last administration (in 2006) were a meagre 19%, by far the worst in Oxfordshire, and among the worst in England. The executive board member at that time is the same person who has now decided to abandon the Lib Dem's fully budgeted plans for a weekly food waste pilot scheme in East Oxford.