The borough council has committed to boosting recycling in Test Valley, but could not commit to improvements as early as 2024.

Following a recent announcement by the Government regarding waste reforms, local authorities will soon be required to collect six recyclable waste streams. These six are glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, food waste and garden waste.

Cllr Geoff Cooper asked Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder, Cllr David Drew about the borough's commitments to recycling at a Test Valley Borough Council meeting, at Beech Hurst on Wednesday, October 25.

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Cllr Cooper said: "In light of government plans to scrap 'burdensome' recycling schemes nationally and step back from other green policies, can this council assure us that it is still committed to improving recycling in our own borough and that residents can expect doorstep glass collection and improved plastic recycling in 2024.”

Cllr Drew responded that the council's plans for a new system were already well advanced. He spoke of commitments to improve recycling, doorstep glass collection and improved plastic recycling, but said that making it happen before 2024 'was the challenge'.

He added: "Returning specifically to the points from your questions, by March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect all six waste streams from all of the houses in England, including introducing weekly food waste collections, while kerbside plastic and foot collection from households is expected by March 2027.

"You all know the plans we have for waste collection, which are well advanced, and the council in April committed finances including an additional £3.25m to the capital programme to secure vehicles, bins and resources ready for waste collection changes."

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Cllr Drew confirmed that the borough council remained committed to improving doorstep collection services in Test Valley.

Cllr Cooper asked a supplementary question to state that the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the May 2023 local elections said that they would have introduced new recycling streams in 2024, and asked if Cllr Drew would like him to share proposals for how this could be undertaken.

Cllr Drew responded by saying that he was open to hearing ideas from others but noted that as the county council was the disposal authority, its permission would be needed to take waste and other materials collected to an alternative facility.

This, in turn with recent announcements from central governments and a delay in Hampshire County Council getting a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) approved, would mean the new recycling system could not be introduced as early as 2024.