What are your views on the street recycling pods in Surbiton? Do you use them when out and about? do you live in a flat without a recycling service? Where would you like to see them placed?

asks Liz, Yogan and Diane – St Mark’s Ward Councillors

Following on from budget Council last February, most of Kingston borough has removed its street recycling service. The budget for emptying the big green recycling pods, such as the ones outside Surbiton station and Victoria Park, was removed by the Conservative administration.  Liberal Democrats moved an amendment that returned this budget by reducing the ‘Kingston Futures’ planning policy officers. Details of the amendment are here, but it was voted out by the Tory majority on the Council.

Any neighbourhood committee that wanted to keep street recycling then had to find the money by cutting other services. Maldens & Coombe, Kingston Town and South of the Borough have all voted to remove the street recycling, but Surbiton neighbourhood committee has deferred the decision for more information.

We were given in correct details on the locations of the current recycling pods, and not told which had contamination accurately and the required budget for replacements confused street cleansing with emptying the pods.

We believe that providing recycling whenever possible is important and street recycling gives resdietns and visitors the opportunity to recycle. To remove, rather than review, the service is a backward step for recycling in the borough and reduces Kingston Council’s commitment to the environment.

Please give us your views on street recycling services.

Says Councillor Yogan Yoganathan, Councillor for St Mark’s Ward, Surbtion