Liberal Democrats in Haringey have expressed concern at figures published by the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) this week showing Labour-run Haringey Council is failing in its duty to recycle.

The figures that were part of the Government department’s Municipal Waste Management Survey 2002/03 show the progress of council over the last 4 years to meet the national target of recycling 10% of domestic waste. Haringey’s figure for recycling was just 5%, putting it in the bottom five councils in London for recycling and well below both the London average of 9% and the national average of 14%.

More worryingly, the figures highlighted the fact that Haringey’s recycling levels did not improve between 1998 and 2003 with Haringey Council recording just 5% throughout.

Lib Dem Environment spokesperson Bob Hare is disturbed by the poor performance of the Labour run council. While the figures are likely to see an improvement next year, he is concerned that considerable sums of ‘Better Haringey’ money is being spent on advertising rather than improving recycling services and information in the borough.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“These statistics are very disappointing, and reflects a long-standing failure to properly plan for and invest in recycling. This is why so many people in Haringey choose to drive to recycling centres outside the borough. The Council should be extremely concerned that there was no improvement in recycling between 1998 and 2003.”

Environment Scrutiny Panel Member and Fortis Green councillor Matt Davies adds:

“Unless Haringey Council spends more of the Better Haringey budget on practical recycling information for residents, instead of self promoting advertising, then they will fail to see the scale of improvements that a cash injection of this size should bring. It is poor targeting of resources with poor results.”