Greater Reading Lib Dems

Liberal Democrats in Reading have slammed a Conservative/Labour alliance to force through a 'dismal' Waste Strategy for the PFI authorities of Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest, which appears to rule out the prospect of food waste composting across the authorities until well into the next decade.

Lib Dem group leader on Reading Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Epps, proposed that the strategy be "called in" until an unpublished Action Plan was brought in and scrutinised, alongside a separate Reading move to investigate piloting separate food waste collections for composting and kerbside glass recycling. The call-in was opposed by Conservative and Labour Councillors, who proposed that the Action Plan be scrutinised - but only after the Strategy itself has been agreed.

The re3 Waste Strategy - which runs from 2008-2013 - identifies a number of priority issues, such as:
- A shortage of landfill sites in Berkshire and the urgent need to divert waste away from landfill which is becoming increasingly heavily taxed
- The fact that food waste makes up 50% of all waste that goes into landfill - although the Strategy makes no explanation of what the PFI project intends to do to remove food waste which can be easily composted.
- The PFI Board has deferred decisions on what to do about food waste - despite pressure from Liberal Democrats to tackle the issue.

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Reading Borough Council, said:

"The Strategy is a dismal document, with no vision and apparently no action. Half of the substance has not even been published. The decision to approve it has been taken without anyone knowing what actions are being proposed.

There are now serious questions over how the waste PFI is to be managed. Serious action needs to be taken now to tackle food waste and invest in composting facilities. Labour and the Tories, however, are content to dump it in landfill, with residents footing a tax bill that will go up and up. It's a crazy situation."

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, said:

"The Waste Strategy and PFI contract need proper scrutiny. Only constant Liberal Democrat pressure has forced this onto the agenda. Ultimately it's Reading residents who will pay through the Council Tax for this short-sighted document, which barely merits being called a strategy."

Editor's Notes:

The re3 Waste Strategy - but not the action plan that goes with it - can be viewed online as a pdf document here at: Waste Strategy

If you can't read pdf documents you can download a free viewer from Adobe Systems Incorporated Adobe Viewer

Greater Reading Lib Dems

News

LIB DEMS Slam "Dismal" PFI Strategy Which "Could Put Recycling in Reading Back Years"
04 October 2008