Letter to the Gazette
There’s much to be proud about in our borough – but in one area we should be ashamed.
Basingstoke has the unenvious record of being one of the worst boroughs for re-cycling, and to make matters worse, it is also one of the worst of creating waste in the first place. This doubly embarrassing – we create the most waste and recycle the least. There are many reasons for this, but one is years of neglect by our borough and county councils.
Local groups, such as Greener Basingstoke and Natural Basingstoke, have long pushed for change on waste and recycling. Finally, action is being taken. From October this year the Council is introducing fortnightly grey bin and weekly food waste collections. This brings us in line with the majority of other councils in the country. What is disappointing is that there are still some Councillors campaigning to keep recycling rates low and waste rates high. Shame on them.
Evidence clearly shows that fortnightly bin and weekly waste collections significantly increases recycling rates and reduces waste.
Although most of our damaging climate changing emissions come from energy generation about 20% still comes from farming, food and waste. Reducing food waste is critical, not only to lessen the need for more food production, but also because its disposal generates considerable greenhouse gas emissions. The Government estimates a family of four throws away £1,000 of food every year leading to 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The changes to bin collections have been proven to a success wherever it has been introduced. Benefits include:
- Increased Recycling Rates: Fortnightly waste collection encourages us to recycle more.
- Reduced food bills and waste: Weekly food collections reduces food waste and food bills.
- Cost Savings: Reducing the frequency of general waste collection can save money on collection costs, vehicle maintenance, and disposal fees.
- Environmental Benefits: Less waste going to incinerators, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes sustainable waste management practices.
- Improved Food Waste Management: Weekly food waste collection ensures that food waste is disposed of properly.
- Energy Generation: Food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities to generate renewable energy.
As with any new system, there will be a period of adjustment. But not one single council has gone back to weekly collections after introducing the new waste regime. Of course, consideration needs to be given to those with special and medical needs. Larger families may need bigger bins. The council has taken this on board. Bigger bins will be available, food waste bins will be provided.
One concern is always – what to do the food waste? At the moment we burn most of it in the Chineham incinerator. In future we will need to turn food waste into electricity and high-grade fertilisers. This is done in what is known as anaerobic digestors and compositors. We already have three in Basingstoke; but two mainly run on commercial food waste and one on sewage. We will need more. But they will produce carbon free electricity – further reducing greenhouse gas emissions – which can be sold to the national grid; and produce excellent fertiliser that can be used by farmers and gardeners.
For too long our Councils and Government have been negligent in dealing with low recycling and high wastage in our borough; its good to see that they have, finally, listened to local and national campaigners and put in place a system that can reduce waste and increase recycling. Now it’s down to us to use it.