Scouts reject proposal they help collect recycling

A scouting group has rejected a suggestion it could help Wiltshire Council collect waste when two household recycling centres (HRCs) close.

At a meeting with Hills Waste Solutions, Councillor Paul Sample proposed that community groups – potentially even the Scouts – might assist by gathering residents' rubbish and taking it to the nearest HRC while a new council‑owned site is developed.

The Hills‑run centres in Purton and Lower Compton are due to close when their contract ends this summer.

Wiltshire Scouts said they had "not been approached by the Council regarding support for waste services, and this is not something we are looking to get involved with."

They continued: "Each week, thousands of young people across Wiltshire learn skills for life and enjoy new adventures through Scouting.

"Wiltshire Scouts deliver social action projects tackling issues such as mental health, homelessness, and environmental sustainability, and actively participate in local community events like Remembrance ceremonies, promoting youth-led volunteering and fundraising.

"Practical skills training, including first aid, equips young people to make a positive impact in their communities."

According to notes of the meeting published by Hills, and seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Sample suggested that "a short-term solution, whilst waiting for a new facility to be provided on Council owned land might be more community involvement.

"He suggested that perhaps the council (or possibly the local councils) could provide occasional skips/ bring in extra kerbside collections, or perhaps the Scouts could get involved and collect up residents waste and take it to the nearest HRC."

He later added: "Scouts have also taken waste to recycling centres as part of their fundraising efforts."

The HRCs at Purton and Lower Compton are owned by Hills, not Wiltshire Council, so they will close when the contract expires.

Wiltshire Council runs several other HRCs around the county, and said it does so at lower cost than Hills' sites.

It is therefore confident it can save money overall by opening a new site in the north of the county.

Sample added: "We recognise the good work they've done – but the bid Hills put in for this contract was significantly more than we are prepared to pay.

"We cannot afford to invest capital sums in sites Wiltshire Council do not own."

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