Council faces £1.6m rise in waste treatment costs

The council has launched a public consultation about waste and recycling

A council said it faced a £1.6m-a-year rise in waste treatment costs by 2030 unless it could change the way it dealt with rubbish.

Bedford Borough Council said changes to government waste policy meant local authorities had to increase recycling, reuse and reduce carbon emissions.

It launched a 'Resources Waste Strategy' public consultation, which is open until the end of November.

Councillor Nicola Gribble, environment portfolio holder, said managing waste responsibly was "crucial" for the environment and residents.

Bedford Borough Council is trying to persuade people to recycle more waste

The authority's responsibility for waste is wide-ranging.

It is responsible for collecting and managing household waste and recycling, and garden waste.

It also arranges collections of clinical, commercial and bulky waste and operates the Barkers Lane recycling centre.

Councillor Nicola Gribble said managing waste responsibly was "crucial"

Gribble said: "Managing waste responsibly is crucial for both our environment and our residents.

"This consultation is an opportunity for everyone in Bedford Borough to share their views on how we manage waste and recycling in the future."

The consultation runs until 30 November and is available online and in printed form at Bedford Central Library, the borough council's hub and Bedford Borough Hall.