The London Assembly’s environment committee is to investigate the reasons behind the wide variations in recycling rates among the 33 boroughs in the capital. Assembly Member Gareth Bacon is leading the probe for the environment committee. The study will examine the methods used to manage waste, the financial incentives used to promote recycling and attitudes towards recycling among London residents.
London owns the dubious distinction of having the worst performance for recycling across all regions of England. In 2008/2009, London showed a combined municipal recycling and composting rate of just 29 per cent. The environment committee is pinning its hopes on the investigation to find out how London’s recycling rates can be improved.
Mr Bacon pointed out that recycling is one of the best ways people can improve our world and it is imperative to find practical methods that can be applied to boost recycling rates across London boroughs. He went on to say that waste can actually be used to an economically and environmentally advantageous manner. He hopes the investigation can help reveal the impediments to using waste as a resource.
According to figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the London borough of Bexley was the best performing council in 2008/2009. Bexley managed a household recycling and composting rate of 50.25%. The worst performer, Newham, managed only 15.4%. Bexley, which outperformed Newham by 35.35%, was the only borough in London to show a rate of more than 50%. Four boroughs managed to exceed 40% and nine more beat 30%. Tower Hamlets was the only other London council that failed to crack 20%, recording 19.33%.
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