Recycling sack charge is “fake news”

    Milton Keynes Council confirms the story is complete rubbish

    Headlines claiming MK Council plan to charge residents who recycle are “fake news,” and misleading the Cabinet Member responsible for waste services has said.

    Cllr Martin Gowans is concerned that after misleading headlines appeared claiming MK Council planes to charge for recycling sacks people may be concerned about that Milton Keynes Council plans to charge people for extra recycling sacks. He wants to reassure people that this is fake news.

    He says the vast majority of people will get a better service and not notice any difference, in fact on-line ordering should improve customer service.

    Households will be able to order up-to 180 recycling sacks on-line. Currently the average use per household a year is around 120 sacks. If residents wish to order over 180 sacks per household, MK Council will ask people to confirm they are only using them to recycle and people with be offered advice to reduce possible wastage (like squash cans, take air out of bottles etc).

    No-one who is using sacks for recycling will pay anything. 

    People who misuse sacks (such as using them as black sacks) will be charged if they order over 180 sacks or want the sacks for something else.

    The 180 sack limit will be monitored to make sure it’s the right level. 

    Cllr Martin Gowans said:

    “We do not plan, and never have, to charge for recycling sacks. The headlines are fake news.”

    The simple fact is that handing out sacks isn’t free, and in order to balance the books and make £150m of cuts we are having to do things differently. Reducing misuse of recycling sacks is a measure that looks to mitigate other cuts that would be necessary of steps like this were not taken.

    However people who recycle will still be able to get as many sacks as they want and get them by ordering on-line. I hope this reassures people.”

    Sponsored Stories

     

    Local News

    Weather

    • Fri

      12°C

    • Sat

      13°C

    • Sun

      13°C

    • Mon

      11°C

    • Tue

      12°C