Leeds City Council has announced it has joined the Household Waste Collection Commitment, run jointly by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Local Government Association (LGA).
The Household Waste Collection Commitment is a voluntary agreement, setting out guidelines on the quality of waste and recycling services offered to residents by local authorities. Leeds City Council joins around 108 other councils who have already made the commitment.
The news follows an 8,000 tonne reduction in Leeds waste rates in July 2012 compared to the previous year, meaning the city now recycles 48 per cent of its household rubbish.
Councillor Mark Dobson, Executive Member for the Environment, said: "48 per cent recycling is a phenomenal result. This underlines the tremendous hard work which is being put in by staff in the department and also the real desire from residents to work with us and recycle.
“We've known for years that we shouldn’t be burying waste. The annual landfill tax bill is set to increase by £1.5 million a year, so the war on waste is one we can ill afford to lose financially or environmentally, and needs the ongoing partnership between the public and the council.
“By signing this commitment we’re reinforcing the message to our residents that we’re dedicated to providing them with a waste and recycling collection service that’s right for them. The commitment makes it clear what residents can expect and we look forward to working with them on a range of improvements which will make the service even better in the future.”
The pledge is based on consumer research, and requires local authorities to be more transparent and consistent with the recycling and waste collection services they provide. In addition to encouraging them to offer well-documented, regular and reliable services, the commitment also sets out to residents what the council expects of them in terms of promptly and correctly leaving out their items for collection.
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