Mini recycling centres to close from September

ALL 28 mini recycling centres are to close.

The borough council is set to rubber stamp the move on Monday following spiralling costs as a result of falling useage.

A review has said the cost of emptying the large bins at locations such as Sainsbury's on Dunchurch Road, Brandon Nature Reserve and Featherbed Lane in Hillmorton was more than double that of household bins.

It also said all the sites had become prone to fly tipping. The bins at Tesco were removed at the start of the year as a result of fly tipping, triggering the review.

Three years ago all homes across the borough got three wheelie bins: one for general rubbish, another recycling of cardboard, paper and other textiles, and a third for garden waste to be composted.

It led to an increase in Rugby's recycling rate to over 50 per cent.

And on Monday councillors will be told recycling taken to the 28 locations around the borough had fallen as a result from 1,400 tonnes a year to 350 tonnes, pushing up the cost of emptying them to £176 per tonne compared to £76 per tonne of waste from householders' bins.

Costs have also risen following the requirement to take waste to the incinerator in Whitley, Coventry rather than Ling Hall landfill site in Long Lawford.

Sainsbury's has since decided to contract its bins to a private firm while school collection services will not be affected, the review has confirmed.

The main tip on Hunters Lane was not included in the review as it is the responsibility of Warwickshire County Council.

There are no indications of exactly how much closing the centres will save.

Coun Kathryn Lawrence, chairman of the review team, said: "The group was concerned there had to be a strong case for changing the current system but, having completed the review, the group reached a unanimous set of recommendations."

Coun Dr Mark Williams, portfolio holder for sustainable environment, said the review's findings made a compelling case for the closure of the bring sites.

"The borough currently recycles more than 50 per cent of its waste, putting the council in the top quarter of councils across the country for recycling.

"Our award-winning three-bin recycling service has proved a real success and it's a success we're keen to build on.

"However, the cost of the bring sites, both in financial and environmental terms, can no longer be justified.

"Fly-tipping has also blighted the sites and continued contamination of recycling bins seriously compromises our recycling rates. It also leads to increased journeys for our fleet of refuse collection vehicles."

The mini recycling centres are at the following locations:

Ansty, Working Men's Club

St Andrew's Rec,Ashlawn Road

Barnacle Village Hall

The Bear pub, Bilton Lane, The Bear PH

Blooms Garden Centre

Brandon Marsh Nature Centre

Featherbed Lane car park, Hillmorton

The Friendly Inn, Frankton

The Old Lion, Harborough Magna

Jubilee Street car park, New Bilton

Black Horse Inn, Marton

The Bell Inn, Monks Kirby

Nelson Road-Queensferry Close, Overslade

Barley Mow pub, Newbold

St Thomas Cross pub, Newton

White Lion pub, Pailton

Ryton Organic Gardens

Ryton Pools Country Park

Sainsbury's, Dunchurch Road

Shilton Village Hall

St Cross hospital

Stretton-on-Dunsmore playing field

Scout Hut, The Kent

Town Hall car park, Evreux Way

West Indian Club, Street Peter's Road

All Saints Close, Withybrook

Wolston Village Hall

Bulls Head pub, Wolvey

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