Over 40 per cent of kerbside recycling put out by residents in parts of Westmorland and Furness was sent to landfill or incinerated last year by the council and its contractors rather than been recycled.
A freedom of Information request submitted to the council has revealed that between April 2023 and the end of March 2024, 41.5 per cent of waste put out for recycling on the kerbside by residents in parts of the Council district was sent to landfill or incinerated.
1900.18 metric tons of recycling in the former Barrow Council area was sent to landfill or incinerated recycling figures are better at around 2.7% or 148.35 metric tons in the former South Lakeland area and 3.1% or 148.35 metric tons of recycling in the Eden area ending up sent to landfill or incinerated by Westmorland and Furness contractors.
At a council meeting in January, Cllr Brereton Westmorland and Furness councillor for High Furness ward asked Cllr Giles Archibald “when the administration is going to get its act together with waste collection”.
The Liberal Democrat cabinet member said in response the council was “determined” to harmonise the waste services and “fix” service issues.
Speaking on the freedom of Information request, Cllr Brereton said: “Not only are we failing to deliver a service in terms of collections, we’re also now, as it’s been proven by this request, the actual recycling rates on the other end are very poor.”
“It’s something that I’ve been pressing on the Liberal Democrats in Kendal and also the senior officers, that as part of the harmonisation, we should be aiming for best in class not only in terms of excellence of service, but in terms of our ambition as a new authority.”
Soon after, local government reorganisation in April 2023 then saw Westmorland and Furness Council taking over responsibility for services provided by Barrow Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council.
Cabinet member for climate, biodiversity and environmental services, councillor Giles Archibald said: “Much work is now being carried out to harmonise waste and recycling services across the three localities, share best practice and ensure residents across Westmorland and Furness benefit from integrated and transformed waste and recycling services which are effective and efficient.
“Further consultation with communities is planned from March to May, and final proposals set to be agreed and implemented from July onwards. Recent government reforms to make household recycling simpler are also informing this process.”
“Key to this is educating residents about our recycling service and supporting them to minimise the amount of waste and increase recycling performance.”
In the Eden area the total waste sent for recycling by residents (collected at the kerbside) was 4,747,880 Kg with the total waste recycled by the council 4,599,520 Kg with 148,350 Kg sent to landfill or incineration.
In the South Lakeland area the total waste sent for recycling by residents (collected at the kerbside) was 5,505,150 Kg with the total waste recycled by the council 5,356,800 Kg with 148,350 Kg sent to landfill or incineration.
In the Barrow area the total waste sent for recycling by residents (collected at the kerbside) was 4,583,110 Kg with the total waste recycled by the council 2,632,960 Kg with 1,900,180 Kg sent to landfill or incineration.
Issues including contamination from food and other items not been cleaned before recycling and mixed items are among some of the reasons given for the recycling having to be sent to landfill or recycling by the council.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
