The news that EnviroAbility is stopping the recycling collection service it offers to local businesses has been met with dismay.

Here at the Ross Gazette, we rely on EnviroAbility for collecting a bag of waste paper and cardboard every week, as well as our tins, milk cartons and so on whenever our coloured bag is full.

Along with other businesses in the town we asked EnviroAbility if there was anything which would make them reconsider.

EnviroAbility was established as a charity and not-for-profit company in 1999, although it has been carrying out its work in various guises since 1993.

Dennis Humble of EnviroAbility first came to Ross-on-Wye to manage a day centre for people with learning disabilities.

He had a vision for inclusion which would enable those who relied on the day centre to make a contribution to the community.

One of their first initiatives was the Rebox Scheme, used blue boxes, which brought Ross-on-Wye to the attention of many national organisations. Ross embraced recycling a long time before it became government policy to increase levels of waste recycled by individuals.

The Blue Box scheme was rapidly recognised as one of the most exciting projects in the world. Dennis was even awarded the Beacon Prize for England for his part in leading the project.

In 2008 Herefordshire Council changed the way it organised domestic recycling which meant the end of the Blue Box scheme. But thanks to financial and practical support from Herefordshire Council, EnviroAbility moved into recycling trade waste from the small businesses in Ross.

Now Enviroability has had to tell its clients that it has become more costly to carry out the service and it actually costs the charity money.

One of their customers, who recently received a letter explaining why the service was ending is Andrew Meek who runs a software business from offices in Ross town centre.

He told the Ross Gazette that he, along with many other local business owners are serious about recycling and want to do as much as possible to cut down on waste. He said:?“EnviroAbility offers a friendly, efficient service to the shops and businesses of the town. I can see no reason why all independent businesses in the town aren’t using EnviroAbility for recycling. It keeps a good service going and helps pay for their employees.”

He said that when Herefordshire Council had nothing to offer in terms of recycling a few years ago, it was Enviroability who started it all off in the town and local rural areas.

Mr Meek believes that nowadays, nobody should just be throwing paper, cardboard, plastic and glass away as general waste. He said:?“We should all be recycling as much as possible. For the town, Herefordshire Council only offer plastic bags for ‘general waste’ and if you want to recycle, you have to use a Wheelie Bin. A Wheelie Bin is fine for most out of town residences and businesses but for those in the town centre, it simply is wholly impractical to operate a bin especially if there is no easy rear access to the property.”

This is the case for the Ross Gazette, we too will have to use general waste bags, a move which appears to discourage recycling.