Good News About Loads of Rubbish

7.14.38pm GMT Sun 14th Nov 2004

The contractor who collects the refuse for Milton Keynes Council is anything but rubbish!

Complaints about Cory Environmental have almost halved, missed collections are down 42% and the recycling rate across the borough is at its highest level ever (up 26%).

Cory recently published its first ever Annual Service Improvement Plan.The plan outlines all the figures relating to its work handling rubbish and recycling collections across Milton Keynes, as well as setting out targets for the forthcoming year.

The statistics show that, in addition to weekly refuse collections, Cory has shifted a mammoth 518 tonnes of rubbish from the streets of Milton Keynes during the first three months of the 'Deep Clean' programme, which started in 2003. Deep Cleans give every estate a chance to shine. Residents can put out rubbish and unwanted items on a designated day and Cory removes everything, picks up litter and cleans up the whole area. The current rubbish record is held by Fishermead where, last October, Cory staff dealt with 78 tonnes of rubbish on just one Deep Clean day.

Cory's own research shows that around 20% of small businesses were illegally placing their rubbish in black sacks for collection as domestic refuse. With the agreement of MK Council, Cory is now designing a trade collection service using blue sacks.

There are also plans to continue with the Deep Clean programme, to reduce missed collections and complaints and to increase awareness about recycling across Milton Keynes.

"We are pleased that this service continues to improve, as it is a vital part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto to create a cleaner Milton Keynes," said Councillor Douglas McCall, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment. "We are working closely with Cory to make sure that we continue to build on this success, especially with regard to recycling, where current figures for 2004/05 are pushing towards 30%. The Deep Clean programme continues to go from strength to strength and we hope that, following this extra effort to make their neighbourhood cleaner, people can be proud of the estate where they live and help us to keep it clean and tidy."