Hampshire Waste Company Now Up To 75% Recycling And Aiming For More

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th Jul 2003

Chris Huhne MEP, with Sandra Gidley MP and Philip Liddell at Ace Liftaway Recycling

Hampshire parliamentarians Sandra Gidley and Chris Huhne heard of the success of local waste company Ace Liftaway recycling industrial, skip and construction waste when they visited the plant.

Romsey MP Sandra Gidley and Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne were briefed by Ace Liftaway chief Philip J Liddell on the success of separating different types of waste to limit dumping in landfill or incineration. The waste is collected from all over South Hampshire.

Mr Liddell said that the plant, based at the Yokesford Hill Estate near Romsey, was aiming to increase recycling up to 100 per cent over five years through better separation of the types of waste. At present, the plant separates earth, wires, brass, iron and building hardcore that can be used in road-building. In principle, plastics, cardboard and wood can also be separated.

'With waste expanding year by year, recycling is the best means of dealing with waste, and is much preferable to either landfill or incineration' said Mr Huhne. 'EU directives have had an important impact in cutting emissions from incinerators, making landfill safe, and improving recycling. But Britain still has a long way to go, as we are joint bottom of the recycling league table of all the 15 EU members'.

Sandra Gidley MP said: 'Waste recycling needs to be given high priority if we are to protect the environment and our quality of life. It is good to see a local company making a success of the most ecologically friendly way of handling waste'

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