Council commits to zero waste

NEWHAVEN Town Council has become the first council in East Sussex to sign up to the Zero Waste Charter.

The Mayor, Cllr Dennis Forsdike, signed the charter on Saturday, with local MP Norman Baker and the chairman of DOVE (Defenders of the Ouse Valley and Estuary) Joelle van Tinteren, as local children looked on.

The Zero Waste Charter is a national initiative with the aim of reducing waste to virtually zero by maximising recycling and composting, and rendering incineration and landfill obsolete.

Mr Baker said: 'Elected members at all levels know the public strength of feeling about waste and the need to change attitudes.

'This country's record on recycling is the poorest in the western world, but support for change is not lacking at grass roots level.

'The government needs to provide the lead and I challenge DEFRA and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide both "carrots and sticks" to those involved in waste production and its management.'