Wrong policy

Published: 11:58 AM January 23, 2008

Updated: 1:02 AM February 23, 2021

LAST year, it was reported that Huntingdonshire had a recycling rate of nearly 60 per cent, ranking the district council fifth in the country for recycling. This year, Cambridgeshire County Council is to close the recycling centre at Brampton on the grou

LAST year, it was reported that Huntingdonshire had a recycling rate of nearly 60 per cent, ranking the district council fifth in the country for recycling.

This year, Cambridgeshire County Council is to close the recycling centre at Brampton on the grounds that Huntingdonshire is over-provided with recycling facilities and that budget cuts are necessary.

This is short-sighted and confused planning and will lead to big problems in the long-term. The Government wants to build three million new homes by 2021 with at least 11,000 being in Huntingdonshire, so the need for recycling facilities will only increase.

If recycling facilities are to be closed, everybody should take more responsibility to reduce the amount of waste they generate in the first place. Try to buy food without excessive packaging, for instance loose vegetables rather than shrink-wrapped packs. Take your own bags to the supermarket instead of accepting plastic bags at the checkout.

If you have things that you no longer need, consider how they could be re-used rather than just thrown away. Charity shops will accept donations of most things and, if you have access to the internet, you can join the Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org).

This is a free service open to anybody who wants to offer or request items from the group. Practically anything can be "free-cycled", and it is a great alternative to throwing things away.