County's Waste Partnership Rated 'Fair' -
FOLLOWING an Audit Commission Report that the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership rates only as 'Fair' when it comes waste management, the Partnership has committed to improve and has come up with a new strategy.
The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership which brings together Officers and Councillors from Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire District Councils plus Oxford City and Oxford County Councils has just developed a new Waste Strategy which sets out how it plans to meet targets on recycling and reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.
The Strategy identifies that:-
• Oxfordshire is in the top 25 of recycling counties nationwide.
• The amount of waste collected from homes per head of population is the lowest of any County in England.
• Cherwell District Council has the highest recycling rate of any district in the South East.
However, the Strategy also identifies that there is a need to do more, particularly in relation to increasing recycling and diverting waste from landfill and includes targets to recycle or compost at least 45% of all Oxfordshire’s Waste by 2015.
This view is echoed in an Audit Commission Report released today which despite Oxfordshire’s achievements to date has given the work of the partnership a ‘fair’ rating.
Responding to the Audit Commission Report, the Partnership’s new Chairman, Councillor Kieron Mallon, says:"The Audit Commission has recognised the impressive achievements in Oxfordshire so far and the greatly improved focus of the Partnership’s work. It also commends the Partnership on the significant momentum we have built up in terms of developing a joint future Waste Strategy, which is being presented to the ruling executive of each of the Councils during September.
"The Commission is right to note that there is much more to do and that effective partnership working between Councils is the key. A great deal of work has gone into drawing up the future Waste Strategy, and we are determined and confident that Oxfordshire Waste Partnership will play a strong and leading role in further boosting the County’s success in managing its waste effectively. We have a very solid foundation to build on and we want to reach all our targets, and avoid government fines for landfilling which could be as much as £3 Million or £13 extra on the council tax, and protect the environment".
The OWP has just finalised a new waste strategy for Oxfordshire that will cover the period from 2010 to 2035. This strategy will set out plans to ensure Oxfordshire can meet its targets on reducing the amount of rubbish it sends to landfill.
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