Lib Dems 'go green' and succeed with plan for new recycling scheme in Sheffield

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Jun 2006

Cllr Simon Clement-Jones with 'Green Cone'

Liberal Democrats on Sheffield City Council have tabled a plan that could see households in Sheffield reduce their household waste by up to 20%. At a meeting of Council Lib Dems proposed that a trial of a new scheme, which recycles kitchen waste, takes place in the city.

Liberal Democrats have been out and about in local communities across Sheffield asking how people would like to see the council do more to help households recycle. Whilst there are facilities to recycle paper, card and garden waste many felt that there was nothing to recycle kitchen refuse.

After being informed of a new product which is able to recycle kitchen waste by a local Sheffield resident, the Lib Dems asked that the council setup a trial with a view to subsidising the product for Sheffield residents in the future. The council have agreed to look at the scheme.

The scheme involves the use of a compost-producing product called the 'Green Cone'. It is a solar-heated garden unit that takes all cooked and uncooked food waste, which makes up around 20% of typical total household waste. It can comfortably dispose of all kitchen waste from a household of four and only needs to be emptied every one to two years.

The 'Green Cone' is designed to be complementary to a compost bin, i.e. garden waste goes into the compost bin and kitchen waste goes into the 'Green Cone', and currently over twenty councils across the UK are subsidising the product in order to increase recycling in their area.

Liberal Democrats believe that the scheme, if successful, would reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill or incineration. It could also help save the council money as less 'black bin' waste would have to be collected. There would also be only a limited cost to setup the initial trail.

At the meeting of council the Green group refused to support the Liberal Democrats despite the fact that the Green Cone product could increase recycling in Sheffield.

Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Sustainable Environment, said: -

"Talking to local residents across Sheffield it has become clear that there is a gap in the councils recycling strategy. Many people want to be able to recycle kitchen waste and significantly reduce the amount of 'black bin' waste they produce by up to 20%"

"After being alerted to the new product that could deal with this problem we have drawn up proposals which would see the 'Green Cone' go on trial in Sheffield. Now that we have been successful we could see waste collection reduced and recycling rates increase, which is what we need to achieve to help create a sustainable environment"

"Not only would we see less waste going to landfill or incineration but we could also see the cost of collecting waste reduced, saving the taxpayer money. This is the type of sustainable green policy we want to promote for Sheffield. However, i am surprised that the Green Party didn't support us on this issue"

"Enabling Sheffield to become environmentally friendly is a priority for us. We are listening to local people and acting on what they would like the council to do in dealing with environmental issues. We believe that this scheme could make a real difference, I'm glad that our proposal was approved at council despite not all of the council backing us"