PEOPLE living in Basingstok e and Deane have partly blamed the borough’ s poor recycling rate on “poor access” to waste centres.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is ranked 329 out of 351 authorities for the percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting.

With new EU legislation aiming to get the UK achieving a 50 per cent recycling target, the borough council is well belo w this at just 26.3 per cent, something residents put down to lack of access to the household waste recycle centre (HWRC) in Wade Road, and people just not interested in recycling.

Gazette readers have shared their opinions on our website and Facebook page.

Amanda Oxlade-Gotobed said: “If Basingstok e was more into recycling like a lot of the other authorities i.e provided food waste bins that would be great.”

Adrian Barrett said: “I was in a huge queue waiting for an hour in pouring rain. Frankly atrocious.

“A second site to the west of town is needed now.

“People will go to recycling sites but the council must provide the means and incentive for us to do so.”

The Wade Road centre is overseen by Hampshire County Council and it said it is working continuously to mak e sure it is running smoothly.

A spokesperson said: “The recycling rate for a district or borough council, such as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, is based only on the recycling that they collect at the kerbside plus the recyclable materials collected at recycling banks in their area.

“Recycling at local household waste and recycling centres is not included in the district council figures.”

Cabinet member for regulatory services and the environment at the borough council, Cllr Hayley Eachus , said: “At Basingstok e and Deane we take the issue of recycling very seriously and are continuing to work with our residents to educate them on what you can and can’t recycle.”