Council helps force Government U-turn on community composting charges

South Norfolk Council has welcomed the Government's U-turn on its plans to impose a charge on community composting schemes, which could have closed them down.

The new fee was threatening the existence of these projects, including the award-winning community composting scheme at Denton in South Norfolk.

Last year, South Norfolk Council launched a campaign against the charge and publicly warned the Government not to impose it. It said the fee could shut down composting schemes like Denton, and wreck other communities' plans for similar projects.

Council officers directly contacted officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its campaign. In a press release issued on 15 December 2004, South Norfolk Council said:

- The Government should support schemes like Denton. They should do nothing to discourage communities from setting up similar schemes, or threaten the ones that are already up and running with extra costs they cannot handle.

- The Government is considering imposing an annual charge on community composting schemes. We have spoken to policy officers at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and made a strong case against these charges.

- Denton is a model to the Government and to other communities of what can be done. We want more Dentons in South Norfolk and across the country, not less.

At South Norfolk's annual meeting last month (May), Councillor John Peterson who leads on environment issues, won support for his call for the Council to pay the charges and save present and future schemes.

This Monday (27 June), with just days to go before the fee was introduced, South Norfolk Council's Head of Environmental Services David Osborne said:

"There is already a thriving composting scheme going in Denton, and other villages - such as Mulbarton - are considering it. We don’t want anyone to be put off by the new charge. We are lobbying Parliament to reconsider this legislation, which could undermine many recycling opportunities, but we will pay the charges in the meantime - and if we fail to change their mind."

Liz Cargill, scheme organiser at Denton said:

"We welcome this move, and we appreciate South Norfolk Council's support in bringing this about. We will be watching this carefully to ensure the Government continues to encourage our valuable work."

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