The Clutha District Council has not shown enough leadership on the issue of recycling and should show the district it is serious about the concept, Crs Jeff Seymour and Bruce Vollweiler told yesterday's district council meeting.
The council has not set aside any money for a recycling service in its 2008-09 draft annual plan.
However, six of the 45 submissions on the annual plan asked for a council recycling service.
The council's usual response to such requests has been that it must wait until the Government adopts its Waste Minimisation Bill before it can act.
But at yesterday's draft plan hearings, several councillors said the council needed to be seen to be taking the lead on the issue.
Cr Vollweiler said one sign of good faith could be for the council to sign up to the nationwide Zero waste programme, which encouraged local authorities to take steps to reduce their waste.
The Clutha council has previously declined invitations to join the programme.
Cr Seymour said the council needed to demonstrate it was "heading in that direction".
