A NEW kerbside glass recycling service has been slammed by a former Basingtoke council leader.
Deputy Labour leader Paul Harvey claims the scheme lacks eco credentials.
He claims the council is spending too much money on a service that will do little to boost the borough’s poor recycling rate.
He claimed kerbside glass collections also cause more pollution and reduce the value of recycled glass.
He said: “This new service is not environmentally friendly. The cost of the scheme is money that should be better spent on a better service that is greener.
“The cost for this glass collection service in year one will be £300 per tonne, reducing to £130 per tonne a year after that. The average price for mixed glass in March 2011 was just £5 to £8 per tonne. Whichever way the Conservatives try and justify this, the cost is not value for money.”
But cabinet member for the environment Elaine Still believes making it easier to recycle glass will lead to higher volumes and offset the price difference.
From Monday, council street teams will start collecting glass jars and bottles from green tubs every other week.
Residents in parts of Kingsclere, Kings Furlong, Old Basing, Hatch Warren, Winklebury and Rooksdown will be the first to receive the service.
These areas are taking part in a one-year trial run while council officers iron out problems.
The rest of the borough will be added to the rounds in April and June next year.
Cllr Still said: “Residents told us they wanted us to make it easier for them to recycle. This new service will mean they will be able to recycle all their glass bottles and jars at the kerbside.”
It is hoped the service will boost the borough’s poor recycling rate – the worst in Hampshire.
But Cllr Harvey said council chiefs were “clutching at straws”.
He said: “There are a lot of people who make the effort to recycle at bottle banks. They spend time sorting the glass. This adds value to the glass collected, but it is also more environmentally friendly than a separate waste collection vehicle driving round the borough every two weeks collecting kerbside boxes of mixed glass.
“I recognise that there are a lot of people that find it difficult to get to a bottle bank so we need more bottle banks not less to make this form of recycling more available.”
