Recycling and waste minimisation in Haringey will be under the microscope following the Council’s Environment scrutiny panel decision to follow the Lib Dems’ suggestion and make the issue the subject of their annual review.

Lib Dem environment spokesperson, Cllr Bob Hare, who put forward the proposals, has been an active campaigner on environmental issues in the borough for a number of years. Haringey has a very poor record on recycling and waste with a 5% recycling rate in 2002. Cllr Hare is delighted that the scrutiny panel has agreed to take up the review, which will look into how the borough moves towards achieving the Government recycling and waste minimisation targets.

Cllr Hare (Highgate) comments:

“I am pleased that this review is now going to take place. The state of recycling services is very important to residents in Haringey. My colleagues and I receive huge amounts of correspondence regarding waste and recycling, and a national survey shows that nearly 90% of people want better recycling. I hope that this review will address some of these issues in the borough.”

Cllr Susan Oatway (Alexandra ward), who is also on the scrutiny panel and strongly supports the review, adds:

“These issues need to be addressed. Haringey’s recycling rate is woefully low, at 5% in 2002. I hope that the review will help identify what the Council could do to raise the level of recycling towards the Government target of 25% of household waste by 2005.”