Leeds votes to keep its options open as recycling doubles in three years

11.27.00am GMT Tue 6th Nov 2007

Cllr Steve Smith

Liberal Democrats in Leeds have welcomed the announcement that recycling has doubled over the last three years.

The latest figures for September shows that recycling has now reached 28%, compared with 14% only three years ago when Lib Dems took over the environment portfolio.

The news was announced as the council voted to reject a Labour call to abandon the council's recycling strategy.

Councillor Steve Smith (Lib Dem, Rothwell) executive board member responsible for environmental services said:

"Last week in the council meeting the Labour group attempted to throw away £60 million that the council is bidding for in PFI credits to build a waste treatment plant in the city, all because they don't agree with their own government's support for energy from waste plants. We made it clear that an energy from waste plant is not our preferred solution, but DEFRA, headed by local Labour MP Hilary Benn, have put conditions on the bidding that make it essential we do not rule out energy from waste at this stage.

"Labour appear to have no strategy to deal with waste that will otherwise continue to go to landfill, their only options appear to be to continue to send waste to landfill - landing Leeds with massive bills in the future - no doubt they would pay for this by introducing their governments pet scheme of charging all local residents extra for emptying their bins.

"We will continue to investigate all realistic means to reduce waste across the city and increase recycling and reuse, however Labour can help by introducing measures to reduce packaging and other waste before it even reaches the ordinary residents of Leeds and other communities across the UK."