Merton’s recycling rate is declining and now stands at 38 per cent when the 2020 target is 50 per cent.

I believe that building a sustainable environment is above politics and I will and do work with all political parties to improve our planet. 

That is why I have kept quiet publicly over the last 4 years on this subject and tried to work with Merton’s Labour Council to progress a cleaner, greener Merton.

Sadly, my efforts have been to no avail as Labour have closed Weir Road recycling centre, forced residents to pay to pick up green waste, vastly reducing usage of the service, and pushed through plans for an incinerator that will burn and pollute rather than recycle our rubbish.

Put simply, in every household, more than 80% of our waste is recyclable. Residents generally embrace the recycling concept but the Council must provide the means to recycle rubbish. If locals are asked to pay to recycle on top of their council tax then they will vote with their wallet and decline.

Perfectly recyclable green waste that would be turned into compost to be used locally ends up in landfill not only producing dangerous methane but also attracting a landfill tax of £64 a tonne, pushing up taxes.

The only bright spot over the last four years was Boris Johnson’s funding of food waste bins to finish the roll out of this excellent service. I am assuming my letter will get a party political broadcast back from the Labour party.

We need free recycling not paid for, we need more recycling centres and Councils must recycle not burn waste for a cleaner, greener, Merton.

Councillor David Dean,
Merton Council (Conservative, Dundonald ward)

 

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