Household Waste Recycling Centres — NFDC statement

Statement from New Forest District Council

The political administration at New Forest District Council is pleased to hear that proposals to close Household Waste Recycling Centres, including two in the New Forest district area at Somerley and Marchwood, have been initially rejected by councillors at Hampshire County Council. 

The final decision will be made by the Hampshire County Council (HCC) Cabinet on 14 October. 

Both New Forest District Council, and their partners at the New Forest National Park Authority made robust representations to the recent HCC budget consultation. Subsequently, Cllr Jill Cleary, Leader of the District Council also made a direct appeal to the new Leader of the County Council, Cllr Nick Adams-King, highlighting specific concerns over the potential impact of the potential closures on New Forest residents and the special landscape and natural environment of the New Forest National Park. 

Responding to the news, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability said: 

“Many of us are aware of the difficult choices being faced by our county council colleagues in meeting sector wide financial pressures.   

I am pleased to hear that the county will be continuing to support our system wide approach to reducing waste and improving recycling rates, something that our own wheeled bin rollout is already playing a key part in achieving. 

I had been concerned that the closure of Somerley or Marchwood HWRCs would have had a knock-on burden that would have fallen squarely on the protected habitats and landscapes of the National Park.  

We know from data collected during the covid period, when household waste recycling centres were closed, that there was a demonstrable uptick in the environmental scourge that is fly tipping.   

Recycling centres are a key component of promoting recycling and reuse, as all councils act towards the binding Net Zero 2050 targets. 

The district council will make further representations, in support of the removal of the threat to our local HWRCs in advance of the County Councils Cabinet meeting on 14 October.” 

ENDS