LOCAL WASTE REDUCTION PREVENTING FURTHER TAXES

Landfill tax rose by £3 per tonne to £24 per tonne on Sunday 1st April. But North East MEP Fiona Hall says that local efforts to reduce waste should help stop the tax increase hurting people’s pockets.

The Member of the European Parliament visited a ‘clean up’ day on Newbiggin Hall Estate last week.

The Liberal Democrat met children who were litter picking at Farne School. They were among around 1000 participants in the project. The day was also used to promote recycling, environmental improvement and concern, citizenship and taking a pride in the community.  Commenting on the importance of community initiatives such as these Ms Hall said:

“Local solutions are the best way of making headway against the waste mountain.

“Newcastle City Council is making great progress in reducing waste and cutting the amount of waste that goes into landfill.

“Recycling in the city has risen from 14% in 2004 to 25% in 2006. The Council have a target of reducing waste to landfill by 50% by 2008 as a first step towards zero waste.

“Unless waste going to landfill is reduced, there will be an increasingly hefty landfill bill for the city council. That in turn would inevitably translate into council tax increases. So it is excellent that Newcastle City Council are tackling the waste problem head on, thereby stopping the landfill tax increase hitting people’s pockets."