Ipswich: Bid to bring in weekly food waste collections in Ipswich is rejected by government

A FUNDING bid by the borough council to introduce weekly food collections in the town has been rejected by the government.

The scheme would have allowed the council to meet the capital costs of the new bins and vehicles needed to set up the service.

It would have also reduced landfill tax levied on council tax payers by taking food waste out of black bins and the food would have produced compost and useable gas – reducing the town’s impact on the environment.

The proposal was supported by Suffolk County Council but government funding was required to meet the capital costs.

Councillor Sandy Martin, Portfolio Holder for a Greener Ipswich said: “Council tax payers contribute enormous sums to the government in Landfill Tax payments and that tax was always intended to encourage councils to reduce waste and recycle more.

“We submitted a fully-costed plan to do just that, but unfortunately the government have not supported our bid.

“I am deeply disappointed with the decision and the fact that the Government will be investing on such matters in other parts of the country but not here.

“The Council cannot afford to fund the set up costs ourselves within our very tight budgetary constraints.”