Robert Brown calls for Government action on recycling

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Jun 2008

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has made a call for the Scottish Government to lead improvements in recycling provision across Scotland, following revelations about inconsistent provision across local authorities made in the Evening Times recently.

Mr. Brown made the call in a parliamentary motion (text below) after it was discovered that provision varies greatly between local authorities, and that only 31% of households in Glasgow have a recycling bin.

In Glasgow, residents can recycle papers, glass and plastic bottles, but cardboard, food waste and garden waste is much more difficult to dispose of properly.

Neighbouring Councils however, offer food waste and cardboard facilities door to door.

Robert Brown said:

"It is highly unsatisfactory that only 31% of households in Glasgow are able to have a recycling bin. It is also a challenge that it's almost impossible to recycle food waste and that there are only two sites which accept cardboard.

"Some authorities accept these recyclables, some don't. Many have differing policies about what goes in what bag and how often each type of bag is collected.

"However, matters have improved and it is easy to forget the abysmal levels of recycling there were across most of Scotland only a few years ago.

"Nevertheless, the current arrangements could still be improved dramatically, and it is time to look at what has worked best across Scotland and build on success.

"The system in different areas can make it very confusing for people to work out what goes where, and when to put their bags out for collection - and that's for those who have a door to door service.

"Beyond Glasgow, provision is different depending on where you go - in some places some types of recyclables are accepted, some aren't. What recyclables you can mix in one authority, can't always be mixed in another.

"That's why I'm calling on the Scottish Government to work with authorities to increase provision around the country, so people have the opportunity to recycle as much waste as possible as simply as possible.

"We also need to have the Scottish Government work with local Councils towards spreading best practice so that everyone has access to excellent recycling facilities which, as far as possible, have similar arrangements about what is collected, how often it's collected and what separation methods are used.

"Despite improvements here, other countries still often do it better - we need a further step change in provision and arrangements in Scotland."

ends

notes for editors

parliamentary motion:

S3M-01987 Robert Brown (Glasgow) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Recycling Provisions- That the Parliament notes with concern the recent survey by Glasgow's Evening Times which showed great variation among local councils as to their recycling provision; notes that in Glasgow only 31% of households have a recycling bin of any colour while some neighbouring authorities have collection arrangements for cardboard, food waste and plastic as well as tins, glass and paper; welcomes the work done by the previous administration to dramatically increase recycling, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with local authorities to further improve and increase recycling services and to create a minimum national standard for service provision.