Residents in Chichester District are being urged to continue recycling as much waste as possible, despite reports of difficulties in recycling markets.

In recent weeks there have been media reports about the problems faced by councils and the recycling industry, due to the credit crunch and recession.

The world is experiencing a financial crisis, which is affecting many sectors, including manufacturing, where a significant reduction in demand for goods is being felt. This in turn has hit the recycling sector with less demand for certain recyclable materials, and sharp falls in some material values.

There have been reports that in a few parts of the country, councils are beginning to stockpile materials until market conditions improve. This is not the case here in Chichester and in West Sussex.

"I can assure our residents that all the materials they save for recycling, be it cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, glass jars and bottles, are all being sent for recycling", says Councillor Pieter Montyn, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, at Chichester District Council. "We do not want residents in any way to be deterred from recycling due to news reports of some councils facing problems. All materials collected here are being passed to recycling reprocessors as always and are being turned into new products."

"Chichester District residents have been among the top recyclers in the country over the last three years. Last year we recycled, and diverted from landfill, over 16,000 tonnes of household waste. By continuing to place all wanted recyclable materials in the burgundy bins, and at the great many public recycling banks around the district, they can carry on being recycling leaders with the confidence that all the materials are being recycled."

An innovative new scheme is being launched this autumn in Chichester Harbour to help protect the migrating flocks of Brent Geese. Called ‘Goose Watch’, volunteers are being recruited to help monitor the movement of the Geese over the coming months.

Last winter, a peak of over 12,000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese visited Chichester Harbour, making the area internationally important for this species with about 5% of the population. The Geese are easily identified by their ‘cackling’ sound as they fly overhead in their favourite ‘wavy’ formation or form groups plodding over the mudflats on their sturdy webbed feet. In the daytime the Geese will often move inland and can be seen grazing on fields.

They favour crops such as wheat, oil-seed rape as well as grassland. This can be a problem for arable farmers. Keeping track of their movements as they look for new grazing land can be a bit of a headache for Conservation Officer, Ed Rowsell. Ed says, ‘Each year we try to build up a picture of where the Geese go, which fields they use and how many visit Chichester Harbour. Over the years we developed an understanding of how the Geese use the harbour and the surrounding fields in the AONB. It is my task to try and track them down.’

To help with this important work, a new scheme called ‘Goose Watch’ has been launched. Five keen volunteers have already signed up but lots more are needed.  Under the scheme local volunteers will be allocated a sector within which to monitor the geese on a fortnightly basis. Reports will then be fed back to the Harbour Office to help the Conservancy build up a much better informed picture of the habits of these special winter visitors.

Anyone interested in joining ‘Goose Watch’ should contact Ed Rowsell at the Harbour Office 01243 510985. No birdwatching experience is necessary as training, maps and recording forms will all be provided.