THE Gazette today launches a new phase of its Basingstoke - A Place To Be Proud Of campaign as we urge readers to breathe new life into the borough's recycling drive.

Last month, The Gazette revealed Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council recycled just 16 per cent of household waste for the year 2003/04 - and officials admit it is a long way away from reaching the Government's target of 40 per cent by 2006.

That figure may be a distant goal - but, today, The Gazette urges local people to help get recycling back on track in Basingstoke and Deane.

Councillor David Potter, Cabinet member for communities and regeneration, revealed the scale of the problem.

He said: "The situation we are facing is that we are pushing more and more products into landfill sites when they could be put back into the economy. If we go on like this, by 2020, we'll not have the capacity any more and the landfills will be overflowing.

"It is an enormous problem and it's almost reaching a crisis situation. It's one we face not only in Basingstoke, but it's a wider problem for Hampshire County Council and nationally as well.

"Put quite simply, we need to recycle a lot more. The waste that we throw away is mounting up and we need to educate people to recycle a lot of the products they use, like glass and plastics."

Even though some people have already taken up the green gospel and recycle as part of their everyday lives, there are others who do not view it as very important at all.

Cllr Potter told The Gazette: "We find we get quite a lot of people in the community who are very, very committed - almost evangelical - about recycling. They think about it every day and sort their rubbish.

"There are also people who don't really ever think about recycling and we've got to make them more aware.

"If we can make it as easy as possible for them to recycle, they will also be more likely to, and we've got to get the message into the schools. Improving education will ensure that the new generation thinks about recycling in a way that people haven't done in the past.

"We already have the grey bins, which are for the normal day-to-day rubbish, and we've provided the green bins and the piggy-back variety for recyclable waste.

"We'll be looking to try and roll the proper green bins out across Basingstoke and Deane, particularly to the rural areas."

A cross-party group has also been formed to look into environmental issues in Basingstoke.

"This is something that will affect us all, regardless of who controls the council," said Cllr Potter.

However, Cllr Potter recognises there is a long, hard road ahead for recycling in Basingstoke.

He said: "Before we can start to move ahead, we've got to make some very difficult decisions as a borough council, because the process will be very expensive, but it's one we've got to go ahead with.

"We're talking about a massive programme to raise awareness that will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, as well as money to buy or lease the bins, and changes to our collection agreement. What I have to do is get political and public support for this.

"We are comforted by the actions of Hampshire County Council. They are responsible for the Wade Road recycling facility, which is due to be massively expanded, and that should be completed by the end of 2006. That work will make it easier for people to take their waste there by improving the capacity and traffic flow."

Summing up the recycling challenge, Cllr Potter said: "We need people to recognise that what comes out of the ground and is processed and goes onto the marketplace doesn't disappear when it's thrown away - it comes back as waste. What we've got to do is break into this cycle and make better use of resources."

First published: Friday, February 11, 2005