Council beats recycling target

as 17.5% of waste is recycled - up 7% n last year

Recycling rates in Wandsworth have hit a record high over the past 12 months, with huge increases in the amount of items now being recycled by households, which means that the borough has comfortably beaten its compulsory 16 per cent recycling target set by the Government.

In terms of tonnage, residents recycled nearly 15,000 tonnes of waste between April 2003 and the end of March 2004, compared to just over 9,000 tonnes during the same period in 2002/3.

New research has also shown that residents are very happy with local recycling services. A study carried out by pollsters MORI and the Open University found that that 64 per cent are satisfied with the borough's recycling services and the range of materials collected. This is a 25 per cent increase in figures obtained in a similar attitude survey undertaken in 2002.

The research, commissioned by the Rethink Rubbish Western Riverside campaign, also revealed:

" A total of 71 per cent of residents agree with the statement - "I recycle everything possible/a lot".

" Those feeling "well informed" about recycling services has grown by 17 per cent to hit 60 per cent.

The increase is being mainly attributed to the council's Orange Sack service, which was introduced in April 2003, plus the many publicity and awareness activities carried out over the past 12 months by the council and its partners in the Rethink Rubbish Western Riverside campaign.

Residents are now able to put paper, card, glass, tin cans and plastic bottles in the same Orange Sack, which is collected every week from doorsteps. This simplified service was automatically extended to the 83,000 households in the borough with an individual doorstep refuse collection, making it easy and convenient for people to recycle.

Each household receives regular supplies of Orange Sacks - which are themselves made from recycled material - and residents who run out can pick up additional ones by visiting their local library or the town hall.

In the wake of the scheme's success, an Orange-style recycling service is also now being extended to all of the borough's housing estates, which will enable people to place paper, cardboard, tin, glass, and plastic bottles in recycling containers situated on their doorsteps.

To make the system work the council is increasing the number of recycling banks on housing estates from just over 400 to 1,600. Just like the Orange sacks used elsewhere in the borough, estate residents will be able to place all their recycleables in the same bank.

The fourfold increase means there will be an individual recycling bank for the vast majority of housing blocks in the borough - both council and private. These new banks will also complement the 175 that have been placed at leisure centres, supermarkets and car parks across the borough. A lack of adequate storage space in high rise flats has meant this type of recycling system was impractical. Using the same bank to recycle lots of different items overcomes this hurdle.

Cabinet member for environment and public services Cllr Guy Senior said: "It is a great achievement to have beaten the Government's very tough recycling target. People in Wandsworth deserve a pat on the back for their role in this success.

"We were confident that if we were able to make recycling as simple and convenient as possible, then people would naturally want to play their part. We are now looking at ways of working with the community to increase our recycling levels even further. We are aiming to hit our next target of 24 per cent by the end of March 2006."

Residents of privately owned housing blocks who would like a recycling bank should telephone (020) 8871 6233. Council tenants or leaseholders should telephone (020) 8871 8604.

May 20, 2004