Light in the Darkness

• It seems that I am doing a lot of waiting and hoping at the moment.  Along with many local government employees.

• I'm sending off claims for quarter 3 Recycling Credits and wondering whether quarter 4 will be the last ones I do.

• I received two letters in the last two weeks informing me that their council has decided that Recycling Credits will be one of the casualties of the spending cuts.  This is a particular disappointment to staff involved who have been proud to work with several charities in this way.

• The third letter, however, led me to believe that there was still hope.  It was from Lord Henley, minister responsible for Recycling Credits.  He supported the comments I have made before, namely that it would be a false economy to stop Recycling Credits because the resulting increase in landfill would result in even higher costs.

• Let's hope he is right.  I am of the impression that the people making the decisions about what costs to cut do not understand the complexities of Recycling Credits and Landfill Tax.

• Councils are put in the impossible position of having to choose between equally important areas of expenditure.

• What is clear is Recycling Credits does offer the opportunity for local authorities to save money in the long term.

• Feedback from one council indicates they will see sense and keep Recycling Credits because: 'We DO want to cut down (MUST cut down) landfill. We shall not reduce recycling credits.'

• So I go into February with fingers firmly crossed but a little more hopeful that we can continue to work together keeping biodegradable waste out of landfill.