Labour’s prospective MP Charlotte MacKenzie today said that environmental issues are of prime importance to some people in Truro and Falmouth, and called for a fresh approach to Cornwall’s waste management.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“Many people think Cornwall Council has got it’s waste strategy wrong. In 2005 local elections, my local Party called for more consultation before the Council issued a 30 year contract for Cornwall’s waste services. The incoming Liberal Democrat Council instead ploughed on with plans which included incineration as their preferred option, and contracted with SITA.

“The unitary authority brought together waste collection (previously a District responsibility) and waste disposal (previously a County responsibility). Despite the existing contracts, this should be an opportunity to develop a new waste strategy that works much better for local communities and Cornwall’s environment. Many people are disappointed that instead the Tory-dominated Council decided to continue the existing contract with SITA.

“In Truro and Falmouth constituency there is no household amenity site for 40,000 households. There are plans to provide a site like this on the outskirts of Falmouth, and I hope that calls for this much needed facility in Truro will also be listened to and provided at a suitable convenient location. The fact is that four out of ten households in this constituency don’t make use of the kerbside recycling collections. There needs to be much more positive support persuading people to start recycling through the existing collections services paid for by council tax, or a fresh approach that leads people to recycle more.

“The SITA planning appeal hearing opens on Tuesday 16 March. Truro and Falmouth Labour Party made local views known through the earlier consultations by calling for a decentralised waste strategy which reduced the need for transportation. This would mean lower carbon emissions; more re-use and recycling; and using newer, greener technologies at several locations across Cornwall to generate energy from waste.

“Cornwall Council say they are developing a ‘green Cornwall’ strategy. They are taking steps to meet reduction targets for the Council’s own carbon emissions and backing some more sustainable transport initiatives. But it isn’t clear that simply disposing of Council owned buildings with higher emissions, or failing to rethink Cornwall’s centralised waste plan, will lead to the lower carbon Cornwall many people want to see.”