AN online petition has been launched in a bid to reinstate the opening hours of recycling centres across the county to help combat illegal fly-tipping.
Mendip District Councillor for Frome College, cllr Adam Boyden, has set up the online petition. He hopes it will help overturn a decision made by Somerset County Council in April of last year, that reduced opening hours of recycling centres across the county.
He says that this year fly-tipping, where people illegally dump their waste, has risen by 20% compared to when recycling centres were open for longer in 2010.
Cllr Boyden said, “Somerset County Council need to review its waste budgets and the recycling centres must be open for longer.
“An online petition is a good way to gather public interest and support. It gives people the opportunity to have their say on the issue.
“Opening hours were reduced last year and new charges brought in to household waste recycling centres in Somerset, due to cuts in the Waste Services budget by Somerset County Council. Since then, recycling has fallen and fly-tipping has increased, significantly across Somerset.
“Waste going to landfill, and landfill tax charges, have also increased. I think this is bad for our environment in Somerset and not what people expect from their councils.”
At a Mendip District Council meeting in October, a row broke out in the council chamber at Shepton Mallet.
Cllr Boyden and cllr Sam Phripp put forward a motion to review the hours of recycling centres across the area.
After a heated debate, councillors rejected the motion, voting 20-4 to throw out the motion.
• To view the petition visit www.change.org/petitions/keep-recycling-centres-in-somerset-open-every-day-and-reduce-tip-taxes
