FOLLOWING Colin Sansoms letter in the Times last week, I felt it important to point out that West Devon Borough Councils new recycling and refuse contract is designed to provide the same good service for all residents of the borough. In that respect the new contract definitely provides a better overall service to all.
Where schemes such as food waste were being trialled in certain areas of the borough, the aim was always to provide these to all householders as soon as possible. A less frequent collection of residual waste responds to the reduction in this waste given that more recycling can be collected every week from all households.
The new service is based on a weekly collection of recyclables and food waste. The alternate weekly collections of garden material and residual waste then complete the service, and this follows Government guidance. If we were continuing under the old contract, the cost might have increased Mr Sansoms council tax bill by at least 4%.
A consultation on the design of the service was carried out during last summer when the new contract was being tendered. Many questionnaires were completed by residents both via the roadshows and the website and the responses helped to design the new services which are now about to be implemented.
I am unaware of the type of daily collections in some European countries to which Mr Sansom refers. In some hotter countries, waste is collected more frequently than in the UK, but often from communal points. With further information I would be happy to respond more fully.
Robert Sampson
Chair of environment and community committee
West Devon Borough Council