Residents Embracing Revolution - Tall

12.00.00am GMT Tue 16th Jan 2007

Headington councillor Stephen Tall has responded to news of improved recycling rates for Oxford on his award-winning blog, stephentall.org.uk. We reprint his remarks here:

"When the Lib Dems introduced Oxford's 'recycling revolution' a few months ago, our stated aim was to at least double - to over 40% - the amount of household waste recycled in the city. So far, the new scheme covers only one-third of the city - but already the recycling rate has increased from 19% last year to 27% now. And what does that mean in reality? That 800 tonnes of waste have been diverted from landfill as a direct result of the collective action of the residents of Oxford - the equivalent of 100 lorries full of rubbish!"

"We knew when we introduced it that wheelie bins and fortnightly collections would prove controversial - just as it was when it was first introduced in neighbouring Cherwell. Indeed, it's worth quoting from a resident in Cherwell, who noted in last week's Oxford Times:"

• We in Cherwell had exactly the same worries about household waste only being collected every fortnight as Oxford city residents, but in spite of last year's hot summer we found that if waste is properly wrapped before being put in the bin, and the lid is kept closed, there were no problems.

"The vast majority of residents I speak to about the 'recycling revolution' are supportive of the Lib Dems' aim to double the city's recycling rate. The majority of residents (though I'd be the first to concede not all) are supportive of how we're going about it. I hope now the positive results of the scheme are becoming clear that all residents will at least give it a chance, and do their best to ensure its future success. We have always known that we cannot possible succeed as a city unless residents are with us."

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