Falkirk Recycling Rates Hit a Record High Under The SNP

News that Falkirk Council increased its recycling rates by 4%, from 31% to 35% in the last year of the SNP led Administration has been welcomed by Nationalist Environmental Spokesperson, John Constable.

Falkirk Council was already performing well above the national average of 18% domestic waste recycled with the publication of the 2005/06 total of 31%. However, this has been bettered with the release of information that shows a rise of 4% to 35% for the financial year 2006/07.

SNP Environmental spokesperson, Cllr John Constable said,

"Under the SNP Falkirk district became cleaner and greener as these figures demonstrate. To raise recycling from 6% to 35% in such a short period of time was a major achievement that not only makes Falkirk one of the top places in Scotland for recycling but one of the top performers in the UK.

To be effective our waste management strategy required to win hearts and minds and to achieve that we had to work with the local media. I am pleased that this proved to be easier than anticipated and the role of the local press and radio was invaluable in meeting these targets.

As well as assisting the environment council tax payers are also helped in the pocket with lower landfill tax being paid by the council therefore lower council tax bills for dealing with domestic waste."

Councillor Constable went on to encourage the new Labour / Independent & Conservative Administration to continue with the current strategy inherited form the previous SNP led Administration despite promises contained within the Labour Party Manifesto to reverse some of the reforms brought in by the SNP.

"I sincerely hope that the Labour and Conservative Councillors responsible for current implementation of policy will continue the SNP's green agenda.

To achieve what we have to date didn't come without making difficult decisions but we have to move away from the throw away culture. In opposition the Labour members pretended we could become environmentally friendly without making changes to ethos on waste management. Now in office I hope they realise that sound-bite politics does not work in government if you want to bring about real sustainable change.

I would urge the new administration to continue on the SNP's green course rather than risk achievements to date being reversed because of ill considered experiments."