Concern of recycling centre plans (From Salisbury Journal)
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Concern of recycling centre plans
6:10pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News
GREEN campaigners have warned plans to close recycling centres in the New Forest one day a week could spark a rise in fly-tipping.
Household waste recycling centres at recycling centres in the Forest could revert to six days a week under Hampshire County Council’s proposals.
Summer opening hours could also be cut in an attempt to save up to £720,000 a year.
Ray Cobbett, co-ordinator for Hampshire Friends of the Earth, said: “Most working people can’t get there during the week. Right now the opening hours are absolutely fine and we don’t want any reduction.
“This sends out the wrong message. And it will be another temptation to fly-tip which is already a major problem and costing local authorities a lot of money.”
Under the proposals, centres would be closed to the public on the least busy day of the week and instead opened to traders who would pay to dump waste such as soil, rubble and plasterboard.
Currently, commercial and industrial waste has to be disposed of elsewhere. The county council is planning trial sites.
There are 26 household waste recycling centres across Hampshire which were visited by 4.5 million people to dispose of 230,000 tonnes of rubbish in 2010-11, diverting 70 per cent from landfill.
The public will be consulted before the changes are introduced.
