Hindered trying
to do his bit
Oxford
Mail, July 12, 2006
Oxford, UK -- A man "trying to do his
bit" for the environment has said recycling banks are
overflowing and claims Oxford City Council is failing to pick up
recycling boxes regularly.
Free Spirit at an overflowing plastics recycling point in
Cowley Retail Park
Free Spirit, a 31-year-old courier from Saunders Road, Cowley - who
changed his name by deed poll to reflect his Buddhist beliefs -
said: "I go around the area voluntarily and pick up
rubbish that can be recycled and take it to the recycling
banks.
"The council hasn't come and picked up the recycling from outside
my block of flats for the last two weeks so I have been taking it
to the recycling bank at Tesco. But it is often jammed full and
large piles of plastic bottles surround it.
"I am a Buddhist and part of my belief is to care about the
environment. I am trying to do my bit in my area but the council is
just not doing its job properly.
"They should provide another bin and do collections when they are
supposed to. "
Louisa Dean, a spokesman for the city council, said the Tesco
collection point was visited twice a week by the city council, but
a separate vehicle was needed for each of the different kinds of
items collected there.
She said: "We do visit Tesco very regularly but the way it is
kept is dependent on how people use it.
"We have not had any complaints from people living in the Saunders
Road area about recycling not being collected.
"Our service is running as normal. But we will investigate Mr Free
Spirit's claims now we have heard about them from the Oxford
Mail."
In 2004/05, Oxfordshire County Council recycled 30 per cent of
household waste and, in 2005/06, 33 per cent.
In May, the Oxford Mail reported a warning to taxpayers in the
county that their bills would soar unless the county dramatically
improved its recycling record.
Tax on landfill is due to rise by £3 per tonne every year from its
current level of £18 per tonne, until it reaches £35 per tonne,
because of EU targets.