Local Authorities urged to work with community sector

The Community Recycling Network is urging local authorities to grasp every opportunity to work with the community sector.

Following environment minister Michael Meacher’s remarks last week, in which he said that the problem of low recycling rates can only be solved by central or local government working with the cooperation of private partners, CRN is calling on local authorities to work more closely with the community sector.

Andy Moore, CRN co-ordinator, says: “Time and time again strong partnerships between community recyclers and local authorities have delivered some of the highest recycling rates in the country. Look at Bath and North East Somerset, look at Barnet – these councils have seen that working in partnership with committed and experienced not-for-profit recycling operations gets results.

“Working together in a spirit of trust and cooperation is essential for an efficient operation and, as we know, a reliable service gives householders and council tax payers a positive impression, inevitably leading to higher participation rates.”

At its annual conference in May the CRN and the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee signed an agreement to build stronger links between the community sector and local authorities. Another memorandum of understanding has been proposed between the CRN and the Local Government Association.

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 and offer separated kerbside recycling collections to 1.5 million households – six per cent of the UK population.

For further information: Andy Nelmes, CRN press officer, (0117) 908 2405, andyn@crn.org.uk Community Recycling Network, Trelawny House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: (0117) 907 4088. www.crn.org.uk.