MP supports cardboard recycling scheme (From Salisbury Journal)
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MP supports cardboard recycling scheme
9:48am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News By Morwenna Blake
SALISBURY’S MP John Glen has given his backing to business leaders’ plans to try to reduce the cost of recycling in the city.
Salisbury City Centre Management (CCM) is hoping to introduce a private cardboard recycling scheme following a public outcry over Wiltshire Council ’s plans to charge businesses for collection.
Mr Glen said: “I appreciate the constraints that all parties within this debate are operating within. I understand the unitary council has lost a third of its budget, but I have a great deal of sympathy for the difficulties faced by small local businesses in these economic times.
“There are difficult choices to be made, and what used to be a choice between two non essential services is now often a choice about how we can reshape essential services to deliver the same provision on a reduced budget.
“I think the suggestion to seek a private sector alternative is a good one - CCM is doing an excellent job to secure a competitive deal specific to Salisbury.”
Wiltshire Council plans to charge businesses for picking up cardboard from next month in order to avoid the service, which is only available in the south of the county, being subsidised by tax payers.
It will cost £2.21 per collection for a labelled bundle, £6.54 for emptying a 120-litre wheelie bin, £7.23 for 240-litre, £8.63 for 660-litre and £9.81 for 1,100-litre.
The charges come just three months after businesses were faced with a 53 per cent hike in the cost of labels for other waste, which went up from £93 for 50 to £142.
CCM is calling on businesses to lend their support for the private scheme, which it says, based on initial discussions, could cut the costs to firms in the city by as much as 50 per cent.
But to make it viable at least 200 businesses need to sign up.
If enough of the city’s business owners support the scheme, it is hoped it could be expanded to include other recyclable materials such as glass, plastic and paper, saving businesses more money.
Anyone interested in joining the scheme can contact admin@salisburyccm.co.uk .
