Conservatives at Essex County Council have set recycling targets that are vague and lack ambition. That is one of the findings of an independent Waste Commission hired by the county council to review its waste strategy. County councillor Ian Gale, Liberal Democrat spokesman for waste and recycling on Essex County Council, said:

"The Commission's report largely goes with the grain of Liberal Democrat thinking. We will, however, continue to question the assumed need for massive investment in large and expensive facilities. The Commission also challenges the administration's thinking and assumptions in key areas which we support.

We are pleased that the Commission agrees with us that the Conservatives' targets for recycling are vague and unambitious. The council has current targets to reach 45per cent recycling by 2015 and the Commission recommends a target of 55-60 per cent by the same year. We are thus very disappointed that the Conservatives have ignored this key recommendation from the Commission.

We welcome the Commission's recommendation that facilities should be provided on a modular basis, that is build small initially with the option to enlarge later if required. This would much reduce the danger of Essex being saddled with expensive inappropriate contracts for as long as 25-30 years."