Recycling rate climbs to 43 %: now let's go for 50 %! (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Recycling rate climbs to 43 %: now let's go for 50 %!

November 12, 2009 5:28 PM

recycling rate chart • [Nov 12] Cllr Geoff Acton, Cabinet member for the Environment, writes: THE borough's current recycling rate is 43 %, up from 28 % in just four years; it is our aim to get this figure even higher. The take up of paper, metal and plastic recycling has been very encouraging and the next logical step is to encourage residents to join the 'Starve the Bin' campaign and start recycling their food waste.

Our next communications campaign will be focusing on food waste recycling and we will be encouraging the campaign by giving away free food waste liners in December. Each household that recycles their food waste all year save about 150 kg of waste from going to land fill. If every household joined in we would add another 3-5 % to the recycling rate. Greater London Authority figures suggest that nearly three million tonnes of organic waste, mainly from food, are produced in London each year; this is waste which could be used to produce eco-fuel for businesses and homes. It should also be remembered that food waste recycling boxes are far more resistant to attack by foxes and cats than the traditional black bags; so increased use of these boxes will help reduce the familiar sight of eviscerated black bags and their contents strewn across pavements.

The latest Conservative "Smear & Sneer" campaign regarding the Council's track record on environmental matters claims that the council isn't focusing on recycling. This is complete nonsense. Unfortunately it is just the sort of negative campaigning that we have come to expect from the current Conservative opposition. Not content with opposing their national party over academies, it would appear that they are now seeking a confrontation on food recycling with Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson who backed these measures in a major policy announcement on the subject back in June 2009.

One of our key election promises in 2006 was to put the environment at the heart of our policy decisions. The 50 % rise in the recycling rate makes is quite clear that the residents of Richmond upon Thames are keen to do their bit to supportive of our recycling policies. We owe it to them to recognize their encouragement and support and work even harder to ensure that we continue to offer one of the best recycling services in London, if not the country."

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: