FRESH calls are being made to scrap a potential rubbish bins 'merger' across Worcestershire - with one councillor claiming the Conservatives are "obsessed" with the idea.
Councillor Peter McDonald says there is "no desire at all" to integrate waste collections in the county, urging the project to be shelved.
His comments led to disagreements during a full council meeting, with one Green Party politician insisting the whole of Worcestershire would "be in a much better place" if a deal went ahead.
As your Worcester News revealed in April, Worcestershire County Council is considering doing a massive "audit" of refuse pick-ups to see what the implications would be for having one massive collection and disposal service which could also include neighbouring Herefordshire.
At the moment the district councils collect the waste, while the county council disposes of it.
A merger in Somerset now saves taxpayers £1.7 million a year, but nobody has any idea what Worcestershire could achieve.
The county council is hoping to win Government money to fund a study into the possible savings, after the suggestion was raised by a cross-party group of politicians.
Councillor McDonald, speaking during a full council meeting, said: "Why is this cabinet so obsessed with integrated waste when there is absolutely no interest in it from the districts?
"There is no interest from them in going forward with it, no desire at all."
But Green Councillor John Raine said: "I for one have a desire to see this happen.
"I did feel at the end (of the cross-party review) it was slightly 'unfinished business' in terms of being able to work out the costs.
"Finding out those savings is something we've got to do, I just hope trying to find external money won't be used as a reason not to do it."
He told the chamber having one waste system would "unlock the key to higher recycling rates" and put all the councils "in a much better place" financially.
Conservative Councillor Anthony Blagg, the cabinet member for the environment, reiterated the fact the initial review was cross-party.
"We are not obsessed with it, there are people who want to look at this in more detail if Government funding comes through," he said.
"Obviously the districts won't want to sign up to something which will be detrimental."
The Labour group says it is concerned the move leading to possible privatisation down the line.
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