EFFORTS to crackdown on landfill waste at a Kenilworth recycling centre has divided residents.
The Cherry Orchard centre in Piper’s Lane has introduced a new sorting station for customers who are asked to bring their waste in an open container so it can be monitored by workers at the site.
Warwickshire County Council – which operates the centre – says the changes will help reduce contamination and reduce waste thrown into landfill. According to the authority a third of the rubbish sent to landfill from the site could have been recycled.
But residents have hit out at the ‘policing’ on social media saying they should be trusted to recycle correctly.
A furious resident wrote: “Kenilworth recycling centre is now policing the goods taken down there for recycling. All the landfill containers are caged off. Black sacks have to be opened for inspection and then you have to sort through them bit by bit. I was told this was being done at the request of the people of Kenilworth.
“Obviously we can no longer be trusted to make decisions about where to put our recycling at the centre.”
And others users expressed concern over having to expose their waste in front of others.
But some supported the changes because they helped ensure visitors to the site put their waste in the right containers.
The move is part of the county council’s ‘Let’s Sort it Together’ campaign which also focuses on electronics which can be recycled for their metals. The county council also hopes it will stop battery fires in the centre bins.
Site staff will also be trained to carry out electric testing, and items which require minimal repair will be fixed and sold at the Age UK charity shop at the centre.
Council environment spokeswoman Heather Timms said: “In July 2019, Warwickshire County Council declared a climate change emergency and we need to work together with all the communities in Warwickshire if we are to achieve the level of difference that we aim to.
“This is a really positive step. We are helping the residents of Kenilworth to reduce their carbon impact by enhancing facilities for waste reuse and recycling and are encouraging our Cherry Orchard visitors to make full use of the reuse facility and the wide range of recycling opportunities provided.
“We thank our customers for all their waste reduction efforts and for working with us to make the county a greener and cleaner place to live.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/kenilworthrecycles for more information.
And visit www.recyclenow.com to find out how and where to recycle specific items locally.
