Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Dear Sir,

It was good to hear some New Year cheer from one of Bristol City Council’s Cabinet Members earlier today (Cllr Judith Price) that the Council’s refuse collection achieved over 50% of recycled materials over the Christmas period. That makes the City one of the national leaders in recycling. To some extent, of course, the increase would be expected with all of the paper and cardboard resulting from the presents given by Santa and between friends and relatives. Nevertheless it marks a 25% increase on the most recent average rates and is encouraging for the future. I hope that the increase was not all a one-off and that the increased rate was, at least in part, due to improvements in the recycling behaviour by us all. Over the coming year I trust the new Labour administration on the Council will keep trying to push that level up and strive to find additional ways we can recycle so as, for example, include further items in the black bin such as plastic bottles and tetrapaks, which are not collected for recycling here, but are in some other places elsewhere in the country.

The collections in my area of the City (Eastfield) on a seasonal amended timetable has also been to time and, generally, courteous- and the special Christmas tree collection seems to be working well. Though I have heard of one problem in Lawrence Weston, it would seem that generally the Council’s refuse collection company has performed a good job over the holiday period. When they do not I will be prepared to say so, but credit where credit is due, thanks and Happy New Year!

Sam Townend

Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol North West

Eastfield

BS10