Figures obtained by Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Environment Spokesperson, Norman Baker MP, has revealed worrying statistics showing Labour’s failure locally and nationally to address the issues of recycling and waste minimisation successfully.

Haringey Lib Dems are concerned that the figures reflect Haringey’s poor record for recycling. Although things have improved following years of Lib Dem pressure, Haringey’s recycling rate remains below the national average of 12%, with the 2005 Government figures giving Haringey Council a 9% recycling rate.

The Labour Government has consistently said they would put the environment at the centre of policy making; however in 2003 alone it can be estimated that:

5 billion disposable nappies were BURIED

Over 10 million tyres were BURIED

Close to 1 million more tyres were illegally FLY-TIPPED

There were 5,000 reported incidents of FLY-TIPPING

94,000 fridges were DUMPED

5,600 tonnes of furniture, equivalent to 82,000 double beds were DUMPED

42.2 million bags of rubble were DUMPED

Over 310,000 vehicles were ABANDONED

1,635,300,000 plastic litre bottles were BURIED

360,180,000 glass litre bottles were BURIED

32 million printer cartridges were BURIED

2 million mobile phones were BURIED

468 million batteries were BURIED

Haringey Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Bob Hare, says that Haringey Council needs to better inform residents about recycling and to put in the facilities needed to ensure that everyone in the borough is able to recycle easily. He also says that the Council need to heed advice from the Lib Dems and curb fly-tipping by abolishing its bulky waste collection charge.

Cllr Hare (Highgate) comments:

“This borough needs to buck the national recycling trend and improve its recycling figures dramatically. This will only come through greater information and accessibility to recycling facilities, something the Lib Dems have been promoting locally and nationally for years.

“We will continue to press Haringey to improve these measures and to review the issue of charging for bulky waste collection – which has contributed to so much more illegal fly-tipping in the borough.”