Council calls for further cash to fund recycling

THE Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council has warned that the local authority will struggle to meet new recycling requirements without further funding from Westminster.

- By JAMES ROBINSON

From April next year, the council will be required to collect food waste from all households as part of new rules introduced by Central Government.

While the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has already handed Northumberland £2.9 million to roll out a scheme, the council say an additional £1.5 million is needed due to the sheer size of Northumberland and the complexity of reaching some remote rural homes.

A pilot food waste scheme has been running for the last three years, which the council say has been successful in serving around 5,000 homes. A spokesman said the council is “well under way with its plans for the project” to ensure it can provide “the most cost effective and efficient service” to as many households as possible with the funding made available by government.