Published: 02/03/2018
ARSONISTS set fire to a Copeland Council recycling cage in Egremont at the weekend.
The recycling site at Beck Green car park was targeted by arsonists who have caused £1,000 worth of damage to the carboard recycling cage.
Consequently, the materials inside the cage were contaminated and can no longer be recycled, with almost a tonne of cardboard going to waste.
As a result of the episode there will be no cardboard recycling facility at the car park whilst the cage undergoes repairs.
The repairs to the cage, alongside the revenue lost for the materials wasted and the staff time taken to resolve the issue will cost taxpayers over £1,500.
Councillor Mark Holiday, Portfolio Holder for Waste said: “This is a dangerous and senseless criminal act, that could have caused serious harm to members of the public and animals.
“Not only does it cost the taxpayer money to fix, it puts an increased demand on our already stretched local emergency services.”
Copeland Council is urging anyone with information relating to the incident to contact the police on its non-emergency number – 101.
Residents are advised to use alternative recycling sites to recycle cardboard. A full list of recycling sites can be found at its website www.copeland.gov.uk.
Copeland Council has recently launched its Pride of Place campaign, to highlight everything that is positive in the borough and to shine a light on those whose behaviour detracts from the area, including vandalism, fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering.
Join the campaign by visiting www.copeland.gov.uk/content/copeland-pride-place, or its social media pages (search Facebook for Copeland Pride of Place and Twitter for @CBCPrideofPlace)
