Cheshire East Council have responded to questions on Macclesfield's Castle Street lacking recycling facilities.

Despite costing £1.6 million pounds, there was no space on the recently-regenerated public realm scheme for recycling bins.

After being shut for the majority of 2021, the road re-opened on October 7, but didn't come with any bins.

It was only at the start of this month, amid the backdrop of COP26, that Cheshire East installed two new litter bins on Castle Street.

Both of these bins lack recycling facilities, they only have cigarette and general waste facilities.

This juxtaposes Cheshire East's ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2025, when the energy for companies to make new plastic bottles or cans exceeds the amount of energy needed for recycling.

Despite this, Cheshire East figures suggest they recycled 56.1% of waste in 2019-20. A figure which could be slightly higher if Castle Street's two new bins had recycling facilities included.

It has now transpired that the council will spend more money on new bins, but they will not also have recycling facilities.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "The bins currently along Castle Street were installed as a temporary measure while we awaited the arrival of bins more in keeping with the revamped look of the area.

"These were delivered very recently and will be installed in the near future.

"The new bins do not have recycling facilities. However, we will consider the feedback we have received about the bins as we develop our other regeneration plans for Macclesfield town centre."

The spokesperson added: "The council has recently purchased several recycling bins which will be trialled in some of Cheshire East's larger parks, including in Macclesfield's West Park, from this week.

"The trial will help us to understand how these bins are used and once the results have been evaluated, we will consider the most appropriate sites for recycling on the go bins to be positioned longer-term."

West Park is 0.7 miles away from Castle Street, so there is still a shortage of recycling facilities in Macclesfield town centre.

Members of the Macclesfield eco-action group Macctastic were also contacted for comment.

One said: "The work on Castle Street would have been a great opportunity for Cheshire East to demonstrate a small climate commitment by installing separate bins for different waste streams.

"These aren't a new idea as there are plenty of towns and cities that have had them for years!"

Another added: "Recycling bins in public place would set a good example, whilst also showing that the council are thinking about the relevant issues of the day."

One also said with: "Recycling has become second nature in our homes and, as groups like Macctastic and the success of terracycle collections in the town show, people are passionate about reducing their waste and recycling more and better. It's disappointing that this hasn't been extended to public spaces at present."

In defence of Cheshire East Council, it has been a very challenging year for their waste services.

Amid the closure of Congleton recycling centre, and the ongoing HGV staffing crisis affecting waste company ANSA, there have been plenty of missed bin collections which has made recycling harder as a whole across the borough.

Cheshire East Green Party, who have no elected representation in Cheshire East Council said: "We believe recycling facilities should be available everywhere, including on the streets.

"That's why we have been fighting for the Hurdsfield high-rise flats to have them too."

See also: Macclesfield: Here's when your bins will be collected this Christmas.

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