Still more Recycling to be done

The days when recycling in Epsom & Ewell were at worst nil, at best chaotic, are long gone (see photo) but we still only recycle half of our household waste.

Recycling benefits the environment and reduces cost. This year recycling would have cost residents around £725,000 in taxes if it had been sent to landfill instead of being recycled. Even though sending waste to landfill is very expensive, some easily-recycled materials are still being thrown into green wheelie bins.

The council tells us that over 2,500 tonnes a year of recyclable food waste goes into wheelie bins, plus around 600 tonnes a year of paper, 250 tonnes a year of recyclable clothing, textiles, shoes and accessories. Plus around 180 tonnes a year of recyclable glass bottles, jars, tins and cans are just not recycled. There's really no excuse for most of this, is there?!

Over £200,000 in Landfill Taxes will be paid because we are failing to become more efficient at our recycling.

Liberal Democrats want doorstep collection extended to include small electrical goods - which at present have to be taken to the dump and treated separately because of the hazardous nature of electric and electronic waste. Tetrapak waxed cartons have to be taken to Sainsburys and it would be useful to have those collected as well since the bins there always seem to be full.

Please contact us if you'd like to recycle more, want tips on how to recycle those unusual things, or if you have grumbles/ideas concerning the council's recycling service.