Liberal Democrats in Epping Forest back National Recycling Week

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

A UK-wide campaign to encourage people to recycle more of their household waste has been backed by Liberal Democrats in Epping Forest.

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.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner Councillor Ann Haigh said, "In Epping Forest each person is on average producing 258kg of waste a year that is not recycled or composted.

"Liberal Democrats in Epping Forest are delighted to be able to back National Recycling Week. We are encouraging as many residents as possible to make small changes in their lifestyles which will make large strides to ensuring we do not wreck our environment.

"We waste a huge amount of food each year - on average we throw away 112kg of food each, most of which is still usable.

"Many residents have told me they would like to start recycling their food waste, but are unaware they can. Anyone is Epping Forest can dispose of raw fruit and vegetable matter by placing it in the sack along with their garden waste.

"There is a limit to how much rubbish we can throw into holes in the ground. There comes a point when we have to say that we cannot go on getting rid of waste in this way.

"I am therefore delighted that National Recycling Week is underway. I hope it will be a great success and will help residents of Epping Forest to cut waste and live greener lifestyles."