There is a clear ambition of Crawley residents to do their bit for the planet through regular recycling.

In order to secure this progress it requires joined up working from central government and local authorities at all levels.

It is with this aim that I welcome the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Secretary launching new waste reforms to make it easier for households and businesses to recycle by bringing a simpler approach to recycling.

This common sense approach – Simpler Recycling – will mean an end to the postcode lottery: for the first time, throughout England we will be able to recycle the same materials, in addition to having weekly food waste collections.

Products bought with the recycling logo and all the food which is not used will be able to be recycled at home.

With weekly collections of food waste also being introduced for most households in England by 2026, this will put an end to the threat of odorous waste waiting weeks for collection, as well as cutting food waste heading to landfill.

Already, Crawley is part of a West Sussex County Council ‘food rescue’ pilot programme which helps people to reduce their food waste and provide assistance with the cost of the weekly shop.

This initiative encourages people to take advantage of surplus food rescue services and learn how to reduce the amount of edible food which currently ends up in household rubbish bins.

The pilot started as a six month scheme in October 2022, and has been extended all the way to April 2024. In Crawley, the next session is scheduled for Wednesday 15th November (10am to 11am) at Broadfield Community Centre.

I am grateful for the efforts of all who work both for central government and local councils who ensure that recycling and waste prevention efforts can take place.

We know, however, that the leadership of Crawley Borough Council have questions to answer on their poor levels of recycling for our town, from the latest available data covering the seven district and borough councils throughout West Sussex from 2019-20.

I commend Conservative Group Leader Cllr Duncan Crow and Cllr Hazel Hellier for their motion highlighting that Crawley has the lowest household waste percentage in West Sussex that is sent for recycling, and being one of only two local authorities to go backwards in 2021-22.

We deserve better and can get there by working together: the motion also called on the Borough Council to set up a cross-party working group to focus on improving household waste recycling rates in Crawley.

Let us hope the leadership of Crawley Borough Council take a more pro-active approach to recycling in line with not only central government but our county council as well.

Henry Smith MP