Indicators to measure the council’s performance when it comes to recycling will potentially be scrapped at a council meeting this evening.

A Council Performance Indicator set out in the 2014-2017 corporate plan was described as measuring the percentage of household waste recycled, composted or incinerated.

This indicator was part of a strategic aim to “promote an environment which is attractive, adapted to climate change and which provides a realistic choice of travel options.”

In the draft corporate plan that will be going to cabinet this evening there is no Council Performance Indicator measuring the percentage of household waste recycled, composted or incinerated.

A new performance indicator which was not included in the previous corporate plan will measure the percentage of household waste going to landfill.

One of the council’s strategic objectives is to “minimise the amount of waste going to landfill.”

In 2015/16, 25.5 per cent of household was sent for re-use, recycling or composting.

Since 2013/14, Dartford's recycling rate has dropped from 26.6 per cent to its current rate, peaking at just 27.6 per cent in the financial year 2014/15.

Dartford’s target for recycling, which is not mandatory, is 30 per cent.

Dartford Council’s draft objective is to: “Ensure that development in Dartford is sustainable, with high standards of design, layout and water/ energy efficiency.”

Councillor Jonathon Hawkes, leader of Dartford Labour, said: “I don’t believe that residents want the Conservatives running Dartford Council to run away from their commitments to the environment.

“That’s why I am urging the Cabinet to listen to Labour’s concerns and reject this proposal to drop the recycling target.”

Dartford Council’s draft corporate states that having Enforcement Officers continue to appropriately enforce legal requirements in respect of littering, dog fouling, fly tipping, and parking and a scheme to actively involve communities in helping to keep their local area clean will be implemented are key objectives for the environment.