SMALLER Bins are to be introduced in Bolton June 2016. This co-incidentally will take place after the local elections in May 2016, no doubt to give Labour their best chances of re-election.

There has been much said about the Labour Councils plans to spend £2m on reducing the bin sizes to the smaller 140L ones, surely there is a much better way to get £1.25m worth of savings each year rather than swapping the bins.

Plans like this fail often fail because the councillors who come up with the ideas fail to understand the needs and requirements of residents. Instead they look to statistics and create policies and laws based on numbers rather than listening to residents.

Where does the need to recycle come from? You would think the problems lie with residents. Companies that produce the goods that we all consume create packaging - most of it unnecessary. Every wondered why meat is packed with the white piece in, and when you touch the packet it feels like its filled with air? Oxygen makes the meat look redder, thus more appetising. Is this really necessary?

Many will have forgotten that between 2002 and 2004 when the Lib Dems controlled Bolton Council, we were the ones who brought in two weekly bin collections, although it wasn't popular at the time the Lib Dems increased recycle rates to over 30%. In 10 years Labour have taken that figure to 39%. 10 years to achieve a 9% increase. In 2002 Cllr Morris, Labour's Council leader campaigned against this and promised if elected Labour would return to weekly bin collections. They broke this promise. six months after election they changed it back to every two weeks.

I personally believe the decision of reducing bin sizes should be made at ward level between the local councillors and the community in which they serve — otherwise what is the purpose of ward councillors?

Perhaps those communities that are successful in making savings and improving efficiency could be rewarded with 12 months lower council tax. If a scheme works in a particular area it could be rolled out across the borough.

I also think councils, residents, councillors should be working with local companies like supermarkets where a lot of the packaging is produced, to figure out how goods can be packed and taken away more environmentally friendly.

I agree we need to increase recycling rates but all this can be achieved without wasting money on smaller bins, potentially it will have a longer lasting impact on recycling rates in the long term. The £2m could be better spent educating our future generations about recycling.

Warren Fox

Bolton North East Liberal Democrats