IT is being claimed that saving money is the real reason why Shropshire Council is considering closing its recycling banks.

The Council says that this is a factor but claims that there is a problem with the ‘banks’ being used incorrectly.

They also say that they are being used less than in the past.

But Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, is not convinced.

“The real reason that Shropshire Council wants to scrap bring banks is to save £230,000 a year,” he said.

“People use bring banks for a reason. Those that live in apartments often don’t have anywhere to store the recyclables.

“Other households don’t have enough space to store the aftermath of a jolly good party. Some people will be going on holiday and want to ensure everything is in the system first.”

He admits that there has been a reduction in usage but says that this does not justify closure.

“The volume of recycling collected at the 107 bring banks has reduced but not by a huge amount,” he added.

“Bring banks collect around 2,400 tonnes of dry recycling a year – that’s paper, glass, metal containers, textiles, tetrapack and small electrical equipment.

“This is 17 per cent down on five years ago. But with each facility collecting of more than 22 tonnes of dry recycling a year on average, the bring banks are far from underused.” He criticises Shropshire Council for not providing data on fly-tipping and contamination. two other reasons for the proposed closure.

“The council does not have any information on the extent of fly-tipping,” added Mr Boddington.

“Any material left beside the containers on bring banks is cleared up by regular household recycling and refuse crews. I don’t think that can be expensive. Part of the so-called fly-tipping anyway is due to the bring banks filling up and not being emptied.

“The council also complains some bins are being contaminated.

“I have no doubt that some loads will be contaminated but again the council has no data on the extent of contamination.

“The council says that closing the bring banks will improve county’s recycling rate, which fell last year. It has yet made the case for that assertion.

“If Shropshire Council goes ahead with this proposal, it will join a small band of councils that have closed their bring banks.

“The council will not introduce kerbside collection for clothing, which it says can go to charities. Small electrical equipment and Tetrapacks will have to be taken to the nearest household recycling centre.

“That’s a trip Craven Arms for us in Ludlow”.