South Kesteven District Councillor Ashley Baxter made house-to-house visits in his ward last week – but this time he wasn’t canvassing… he was working to empty the bins.
Cllr Baxter, who is SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Economic Development and its Deputy Leader, was on a fact-finding mission to experience the bin rounds for himself.
Following the May election, he is a key member of the team which will decide the Council’s priorities and ambitions in all areas.
The Street Scene service has already welcomed Grounds Maintenance workers into its team as litter picking, grass cutting, and Big Clean projects are integrated.
Cllr Baxter said: “We have some important developments ahead concerning waste management in South Kesteven, including the introduction of a separate paper and card recycling bin early next year.
“This would reduce the amount of contamination from dirty plastic and unwashed jars, which will improve the quality and value of paper and card sent for recycling and far less will end up in the at the incinerator.
“Working in the Deepings with the experts in this crew has definitely helped me better understand how the bin collection system works, and where the problems and pinch-points are most likely to occur.
“The way the Council decides planning applications also has implications for the refuse collection service, which we must take into account.
“It’s been lovely weather for this work experience and great to meet everyone again. I’ve seen plenty of familiar faces on my round.”
Cllr Baxter completed full training ahead of his shift and joined Driver Jamie Greenhall and Loaders Luke Trim and Terrence Wilkinson for the shift, collecting general waste in SKDC’s black bins in his own ward of Market and West Deeping.
His visit forms part of a series of ward walkabouts during the next few weeks where Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Cleaver, will join other local elected members to visit their wards during July and August.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.