‘Low recycling rates should not be rewarded,’ says CRN

“Don’t reward local authorities for achieving low recycling rates,” - that is the message from the Community Recycling Network.

Following environment minister Michael Meacher’s suggestion that poorly performing local authorities should be allocated most of the £140 million fund set up by the government to promote recycling the CRN has called for a more realistic spread of the money.

The minister said that authorities with rates of as low as three or five per cent, including his own constituency of Oldham, should be targeted.

“Why aim for mediocrity? The £140 million should reward those who have done well,” says CRN coordinator Andy Moore. “Low performing councils need to demonstrate a commitment to invest in change and emulate the high achievers. Only then would money be well spent on them.

“The knowledge base of the UK in how to achieve high material diversion, more than just collecting tonnage, is the thing that the £140 million should be targeting most of all.”

Notes for editors:

The Community Recycling Network is the umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK’s growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK.

For further information:

Andy Nelmes, CRN Press Officer, (0117) 907 4368, andyn@crn.org.uk

Community Recycling Network, Trelawny House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: (0117) 942 0142. www.crn.org.uk.

tel: (0117) 942 0142. www.crn.org.uk.