PARISH officials have expressed doubt over whether kerbside recycling will be adopted in their jurisdictions just because rates have been cut.

This follows news that the Public Services Department decided to slash charges for dealing with separated recyclables in an attempt to encourage parishes to start their own kerbside collection schemes.

From July until the end of 2011, charges for suitably segregated recyclates collected from households and delivered to Fontaine Vinery or Mayside sites will be reduced from £40 a tonne to £1.

All parish constables who were contacted said the subject would be up for discussion in their douzaine meetings tonight, but most thought the drop in cost would make little difference.

‘I doubt whether we will reconsider our previous decision,’ said St Saviour’s senior constable Andrew Courtney (pictured).

The price was not the deciding factor, he said. ‘It’s not just the cost, it is also the practicalities of organising collections in the first place.’

He did not write it off completely, though. ‘But we will discuss it and I might be wrong.’