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Council faces £1.6m rise in waste treatment costs

Martin HeathBedfordshire political reporter
Bedford Borough Council Woman with long light brown curly hair wearing a light blue coat and carrying a grey object which she is handing to a recycling operative in an orange hi-vis and white hard hat. There is a grey car with its boot open behind the woman and a skip covered in a blue tarpaulin behind the recycling operative. It has a red sign which says "plasterboard" in white lettering.Bedford Borough Council
The council has launched a public consultation about waste and recycling

A council said it faced a £1.6m-a-year rise in waste treatment costs by 2030 unless it could change the way it dealt with rubbish.

Bedford Borough Council said changes to government waste policy meant local authorities had to increase recycling, reuse and reduce carbon emissions.

It launched a 'Resources Waste Strategy' public consultation, which is open until the end of November.

Councillor Nicola Gribble, environment portfolio holder, said managing waste responsibly was "crucial" for the environment and residents.

Bedford Borough Council Three grey wheelie bins - with orange, green and grey lids. The green-lidded bin says "Garden Waste Only" in white lettering. The bins are standing on grey paving slabs with a hedge behind.Bedford Borough Council
Bedford Borough Council is trying to persuade people to recycle more waste

The authority's responsibility for waste is wide-ranging.

It is responsible for collecting and managing household waste and recycling, and garden waste.

It also arranges collections of clinical, commercial and bulky waste and operates the Barkers Lane recycling centre.

Nicola Gribble with medium-length light bright hair looking at the camera and wearing a brown and blue patterned jacket over a white shirt. There is a grassed area bounded by hedges behind.
Councillor Nicola Gribble said managing waste responsibly was "crucial"

Gribble said: "Managing waste responsibly is crucial for both our environment and our residents.

"This consultation is an opportunity for everyone in Bedford Borough to share their views on how we manage waste and recycling in the future."

The consultation runs until 30 November and is available online and in printed form at Bedford Central Library, the borough council's hub and Bedford Borough Hall.

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