News Extra bin plan


on the agenda THE possibility of another refuse bin for households will be consid- ered by Maidstone councillors as part of the next waste contract. Most households have a large


black bin for general waste, a green bin for mixed recycling and a small container for food waste. Many also pay for a garden waste bin. The plan was discounted by MBC


in 2013, due to the cost of collection. Modelling showed greater recy- cling could be achieved overall through the current method. Maidstone combines with Ash-


ford and Swale in the current Mid Kent Waste Contract. The service is supplied by BIFFA under the con- tract, which expires in 2023. Now MBC’s Communities,


Housing and Environment Com- mittee has received a report from Director of Regeneration and Place William Cornall, to enable it to take an early look at possibilities. The Government is increasing the


national target for recycling to 65% by 2035, and Mr Cornall says that with our current level at around 50%, “Maidstone has a long way to go in the next 15 years”.


downsmail.co.uk


African goose finds home in Kent ponds


ONCE an ornament to the gen- teel lakes of 17th century manor houses, a wild but rather rare goose appears to be setting up home in our corner of Kent. The Egyptian goose, introduced


from sub-tropical Africa, has for three centuries survived in a small corner of East Anglia. But with milder winters and


warm summers, the birds have spread westwards, with sightings in the Boughton Monchelsea area. The Egyptian goose, which eats


seeds and grass and is related to the native shelduck, has 1,100 breeding pairs. Because the species was intro-


duced, it does not have an conser- vation status from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) but is classed as a orna- mental species which is now feral. An RSPB spokesman said: "The


'introduced' classification is not a conservation status category, but


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Public Consultation 20 July – 14 September 2020


FCC Environment (UK) Ltd (FCC) is consulting on proposals to extend Allington Integrated Waste Management Facility in Kent.


Find out more We are formally consulting on our proposals between 20 July 2020 to


more about the proposals and how to respond to the consultation by:


1. Viewing a virtual exhibition and consultation documents on our website: https://kentenviropower. fccenvironment.co.uk


31 High Street, Snodland Tel: 01634 240458 20


2. Viewing webinars we will give about the proposals online. These will cover different topics and be repeated during the consultation period, offering the opportunity to ask questions about the proposals. You can register for the webinars on ourwebsite or using the contact details below.


3. Booking an appointment to talk withmembers of our technical and design teams about the proposals by telephone using the contact details below.


4.Contacting us directly using the details below.


Contactus For further information, please contact us by:


T:0800 130 3353 E: allington@fccenvironment.co.uk


P: Allington IWMF consultation, c/o Newgate Communications, Elizabeth House, Greywell Road, Up Nately, RG27 9PR


indicates a species that has es- caped and bred in the wild or has been released into the wild." The goose has undergone


something of a population explo- sion in recent years, leading it to seek new territories. Now they are being recorded as far west as Berkshire and Surrey, as well as Kent. One report suggested a sighting


The rare Egyptian Goose, which was introduced to English country estates in the 17th century before breeding in the wild, has now been spotted in the Maidstone area, in- cluding the grounds of Leeds Castle


in a pond near Leeds Castle. Its attraction to the 17th century gentleman was its apricot breast, white wing patch and the dark brown patches over its eyes which look like dark glasses. The Egyptian goose likes to nest


in holes in trees near freshwater lakes and breeds well before spring has arrived, hatching up to 10 young.


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