Mid table place shouldn't be good enough when it comes to recycling

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 2nd Jun 2008

Liberal Democrats have called for more action to be taken to promote recycling and composing in North Somerset as the UK's National Recycling Week gets under way.

National Recycling Week is being held on 2nd - 8th June. This is the fifth year it has been held. It is run by Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a national organisation set up to help people produce less waste and advise on how best to deal with rubbish in an environmentally friendly way.

Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Weston-super-Mare, commented: "In North Somerset each person is on average producing 364 kg of waste a year that is not recycled or composted.

"Although North Somerset has made good improvements in recent years to lift our combined recycling and composting rate to around 36%, we are still well behind the best in the country. We should not be content with a mid-table finish.

"Devon, for example, is now recycling and composting over 50% of their household waste - with even 60% rates achieved in some areas. We need to be aiming to match that effort.

"This is not just about being green to help save our planet and reduce the problems we leave behind for future generations - it is also about saving money. We can all help to reduce our council tax bills in future by sending less waste to landfill.

"It makes sense on every level and I hope North Somerset Council and all local residents will use National Recycling Week as an opportunity to redouble our recycling and composting efforts."