Lib Dem councillors have welcomed Haringey Council’s confirmation that there will be a full roll-out of the kerbside green box recycling scheme within six weeks, covering four Lib Dem wards in the west of the borough. The announcement was made at this week’s Muswell Hill Area Assembly and fulfils a Lib Dem manifesto commitment made last May to extend door-to-door recycling across Haringey.

The good news comes on the back of the recently published Best Value Performance Plan for 2003/2004 that exposes Haringey Council’s failures in recycling with only 4.4% of waste recycled in 2002/03.

Lib Dem environment spokesperson, Bob Hare is pleased with the news, which will guarantee recycling collections for cans, glass, textiles and paper in much of the west of the borough. However, he was keen to add that this was only the start and that the Lib Dems would continue to campaign for better recycling facilities and a more comprehensive collection service. He also promised to continue to press the Council over their policy to charge for garden waste collection.

Cllr Hare (Highgate) comments:

“Finally the Council is listening to Lib Dem ideas on recycling and acting on some of them. It is a good start but Haringey is way off meeting the 2005 national target of 25% of waste recycled, set by the Government.

“The Council needs to address issues regarding waste minimisation as well as re-assessing its policy on charging for collection of garden waste. While we will continue to press the council to address these and other recycling issues I hope that local residents play their part and use their green boxes.”