The MP for Dorking Chris Coghlan has said he’s “pleased to hear there’s been progress”, following clearing at an unauthorised waste site.

Surrey County Council and the Environment Agency have been working to try and clear the West Station Yard site in Dorking after an enforcement notice was issued in May.

It’s after residents had made complaints about excessive rubbish and were concerned about noise and air pollution. Along with a potential impact on local water supplies.

Residents across Crawley have made a strong start to the borough’s new food waste collection service, with early figures showing high levels of participation and almost 200 tonnes of food waste collected during the first three weeks of operation.

The service, introduced to individual households across the borough last month as part of the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, provides residents with an easy way to recycle more of their household waste. Once collected, food waste is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, where it is transformed into renewable energy and fertiliser for local farms.

Early data suggests that around three-quarters of households are already taking part in the scheme, demonstrating strong support from residents. During the first three weeks, approximately 197 tonnes of food waste were collected, highlighting the positive impact the service is already having.

The introduction of food waste collections is the biggest change to our waste and recycling service in many years, so it’s extremely encouraging to see such a positive response from residents in the first few weeks. With nearly 200 tonnes collected in the first three weeks, the scheme is already making a real difference. While it is still early days, these results show that Crawley is making a strong start towards increasing recycling rates and reducing waste. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support as crews continue to settle into their new collection rounds.
Councillor Nick Hilton

Cabinet member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change

Crawley Borough Council

Find out more about the food waste collection service.

Surrey County Council has launched its Green Health and Wellbeing Scheme and are encouraging people across the county to take up walking, gardening or voluntary conservation work.

They’ve invested £170,000 with the funding managed by the Community Foundation for Surrey with whom the council are in partnership with.

The aim is to help small organisations as well as get people improving their personal fitness levels, as they nurture and grow together.

Crawley Borough Council is supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s Fight Fly-Tipping Fortnight campaign by encouraging residents to help protect the town’s green spaces and report fly-tipping incidents.

The campaign will highlight the impact illegal waste dumping has on nature and remind residents of the responsible ways to dispose of unwanted items.

Fly tippers who are caught may face fixed penalty notices, prosecution and substantial fines.

Information on waste disposal services can be found on the Crawley Borough Council website.

A yellow weather warning has been issued  in the South East of England for tomorrow as Storm Austin is expected to bring severe gales and heavy rain starting tonight.

The Met office warns that damage to buildings and transport disruption is likely, with the possibility for power cuts.

Storm Austen will clear away into the North Sea later on Friday but on Saturday, another area of low pressure will move in for the start of the weekend.

The public are urged to take extra caution when they travel.