Surrey Heath Lib Dems take advice on best practice in Recycling

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Oct 2005

Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council and Louise Bloom, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, with Surrey Heath councillors David Whitcroft & Judy Douch

A group of Surrey Heath Councillors recently spent a day at Eastleigh Borough Council to seek ideas on how to improve recycling rates here in Surrey Heath.

Eastleigh is one of the top-performing district councils in the country for recycling. Currently they have a recycling rate of 35%, and they have plans to reach 40% in two years, and 50% in five. Surrey Heath has a respectable recycling level of 26%, but this has not been increasing recently. Eastleigh is a little bigger and not as prosperous as Surrey Heath, but is similar in having a mixture of urban & rural areas.

The Surrey Heath team were welcomed by Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh Council, and Louise Bloom, Portfolio Holder for the Environment. Initially, a wide-ranging discussion was held on the strategic values and organisation of the Council. The Surrey Heath team then heard how Eastleigh had achieved its present recycling levels by means that are now regarded as "best-practice". They were told of current activities to improve the recycling of glass & textiles as well as planned initiatives to increase future recycling rates.

"The visit was very worthwhile", said Lib Dem Group Leader David Whitcroft. "Eastleigh's experience shows us what can be done with clear focus and imagination. The initiatives being adopted by Eastleigh are very relevant to our situation in Surrey Heath. Eastleigh's Lib Dem Council also appears to be more adept at obtaining government funding for their initiatives than the current Conservative administration in Surrey Heath".

Surrey Heath Councillors hear of Eastleigh's success with alternate weekly collection of Recyclables

Cllr Judy Douch, the Lib Dem Environment spokesperson said: " Eastleigh pioneered the system of alternate week collection of recyclables and non-recyclables. This is currently being implemented by many Councils, including Rushmoor, Hart and Woking. However, the most important lesson we learnt was how critical it is to gain the support of the local community for recycling by providing education and information. Education is important not only when introducing a new scheme, but also to reinforce it as it is progressively rolled out."

The visit was one of a number of activities being carried out by Surrey Heath Lib Dems to raise the profile of Environmental matters in Surrey Heath. A separate visit to Woking Borough Council was made recently by Cllr Douch to explore Woking's experience with renewable energy. Woking is a recognised "Beacon Council" for their work in this area.