Oxfordshire Waste Consultation

Do you know that each household in Oxfordshire produces one tonne of waste each year?  We have been amongst the best in the country at recycling and composting for a few years now, at about 60%, but recycling rates have started to drop in the county.

Residents are being given the chance to talk rubbish and recycling and tell Oxfordshire’s county, city and district councils how they can help them recycle more and create less waste.

This consultation will inform the review of the joint countywide waste strategy.  This setsout shared priorities across Oxfordshire for waste and recycling until 2030, that will be approved by the Oxfordshire Environment Partnership over the summer.  Then, each council partner will adopt changes later in the year.

Through this consultation residents are being asked what would help them to reduce their overall waste consumption and recycle more.  This includes expanding the range of materials that can be recycled at the kerbside and tips and advice on left-over food, upcycling clothing or donating or buying second hand goods.  The councils are also seeking views on more radical schemes that have been implemented elsewhere in the country, such as changing bin sizes and collection frequency.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment at Oxfordshire County Council said: “We want to help residents to increase the amount they recycle and have looked around at what other councils are doing.  This is a long-term strategy and we will not be making any immediate changes, however, we are interested in which of these the residents of Oxfordshire think may work for them as we seek to minimise the overall amount of residual waste produced in the county.”

Do you want to help recycle and reduce waste?  Take part in the online survey at www.recycleforoxfordshire.org.uk.  The survey runs for six weeks until 18 February.