St Albans district’s landfill waste lowest in county

RECYCLING efforts have seen the amount of waste sent to landfill fall to the lowest in the county.

According to latest figures, St Albans district council sent 25,628 tonnes to landfill in the year 2009 to 2010, compared to 33,850 tonnes in the previous year when the recycling rate for household waste stood at 36.35 per cent.

Over the past year residents have recycled more than half of their rubbish, smashing the council’s target of a 50 per cent recycling rate one year ahead of schedule.

And to encourage residents to continue their efforts, the council has set a new target of recycling 60 per cent of household waste by 2015.

Councillor Melvyn Teare, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability at the council, said: “Residents should be congratulated on their recycling efforts, which have helped to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

“This is important as sending waste to landfill is damaging to the environment. The basic cost of using this method to dispose of waste is also on the rise due to a reduction in available land and increases in landfill tax. I therefore urge residents to continue to do their best to recycle as much waste as possible.”

Although the district may be producing the least landfill waste, a controversial incinerator plant could be built within its boundary. As previously reported by the Herts Advertiser, land off Harper Lane near Radlett is the proposed location of one of the two shortlisted companies chosen by Herts County Council (HCC) to hopefully deliver the scheme. The other location is at New Barnfield in South Hatfield.

While HCC promise the facility will offer a cleaner alternative to landfill and will be heavily regulated, but concerns have been raised about harmful emissions, traffic pollution and noise.

For more about the recycling service visit www.recyclingforapremier.com