Heathfield leads the way

HEATHFIELD is leading the way in the recycling of household waste, it has been revealed.

New figures released by East Sussex County Council show that, on average, 31 per cent of rubbish taken to household waste sites in the county is being recycled.

And residents in Heathfield are way ahead of those in other towns in doing their bit to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

An impressive 50 per cent of rubbish taken to the household waste site in Burwash Road is recycled. The next best town for recycling is Newhaven, with 39 per cent, with Uckfield on 38 per cent. However, Crowborough s former site, in Herne Road, came bottom out of the county s 12 household waste sites with a disappointing 12 per cent recycling rate.

The figures relate to the recycling rate at all 12 sites between April and September last year. Residents visiting the sites are asked to separate their rubbish and use the recycling facilities wherever possible. The range of materials that can be recycled at Burwash Road is wider than most sites in East Sussex, with facilities for car batteries, engine oil, metal, paper and textiles among others.

ESCC s lead cabinet member for transport and environment, Cllr Anthony Reid, said: 'We have to stop sending so much rubbish to landfill. We all have responsibility for the waste we create, and residents who use the recycling facilities are showing they are aware of that and are doing something practical to help make a difference.

Uckfield s household waste recycling site is at Luxford Field on Sunday mornings only. A mobile recycling unit is operating in Bluebell Wood car park, Pine Grove, Crowborough, after the Herne Road site closed on Sunday to enable the construction of social housing on the site.

East Sussex County Council aim to recycle over 35 per cent of all rubbish brought to sites by April 2003.

l Kerbside collections to be extended: Page 7