Kerbside recycling on the way

A KERBSIDE recycling pilot scheme could begin in Newhaven as early as June.

Lewes District Council was told before Christmas that Government cash could be available to fund the project.

Contract Works Group, the company responsible for the council s regular refuse collection, will collect the recyclable rubbish. A similar project in Lewes, starting in March, will be managed by the charity Furniture Now!

District councillor Julie Carr was confident cash would be available for Newhaven. She said: 'I am keen to use the success of our joint work with community groups such as Furniture Now! as evidence of our commitment to working in innovative ways. This should help us to bring in extra Government funding for the kerbside recycling in Newhaven.

Each household will be given two boxes for paper, cans and plastics to be collected every two weeks. Bottles, old clothes and foil should still be taken to council recycling centres.

The scheme was welcomed by Newhaven resident Joelle van Tinteren, chairman of anti-incinerator group DOVE.

But she warned recycling should not just stop at paper, cans and plastic if it was to be a practical alternative to incineration.

She said: 'It is a good step in the right direction but what I would really like to see is separate recycling of organic waste. This would make a tremendous difference to recycling.

An eco-friendly vehicle which will run on a mixture of diesel and liquid petroleum gas, reducing exhaust emissions, would be used in Newhaven.

The year-long pilot scheme will be held in Newhaven and Lewes only to allow staff the chance to get used to new equipment and raise awareness among people.

Subject to funding, the council hopes to extend the project to Seaford, Peacehaven and Telscombe.