SOLIHULL council has been criticised as its rate of recycling falls and remains significantly below national targets.
Green councillor for Shirley, Max McLoughlin, says Solihull council needs to improve its record and make it easier for residents to recycle.
Figures from the council’s 2017/18 Green Prospectus show it is falling behind other neighbouring councils Stratford and Warwick.
Solihull has a rate of 42 per cent for household waste reused, recycled or composted which has decreased by 0.4 per cent on last year.
But the council claims it is committed to its aim to reach the UK 50 per cent recycling rate target by 2020.
A council spokesperson refused to be more specific about how this objective would be reached.
They said: “We are considering different collection options for the future, which may help to increase levels of recycling, and will be establishing a new Waste Strategy for 2021-2030.
“However, the government is due to deliver a new Waste and Resources Strategy in autumn this year, so we will review the emerging policy, targets and guidance before we update our strategy.”
Coun McLoughlin said: “Recycling is something that directly impacts health today and climate change that will make the next generations lives considerably harder.
“Sadly Solihull is not even in the top 50 per cent of councils nationally on our current rates.
“We should be looking at the 55 per cent and 61 per cent that Warwick and Stratford achieve and saying that we can do better. “There can’t be any more rolling back of targets as it sends a message that we don’t take this matter seriously enough, which is exactly what the numbers suggest at the moment.”
“South Oxfordshire recycle over 60 per cent of their waste.
“They offer kerbside recycling for batteries, electrical items, textiles and offer larger bins than we provide.
“People clearly want to recycle, but we aren’t making it easy enough.”
As Solihull council launches its ‘Green Prospectus’, it claims it is committed to low-carbon growth and becoming a centre for green technology.
But it still falls short of European Union standards on air pollution levels.
But it has recently received an additional £7million grant for the next phase of its EU funded habitat and nature improvements schemes.
