Westminster falling behind on recycling - LibDems

12.35.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 17th Jun 2006

Conservative failure on recycling means more rubbish will end up in landfill sites

Westminster is falling down London's recycling league table, an analysis of official government figures reveals. It is also recycling less than the London average and less than similar central London councils.

Westminster recycles 15.3% of its household waste, according to the latest available figures for the year 2004/2005. That is below the London average of over 17%.

The other councils that belong to the same local waste authority as Westminster - Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, and Wandsworth - all recycle more household waste. These councils face similar problems to Westminster, such as a large number of flats from which it is harder to recycle waste than from houses.

Although Westminster's recycling rate edged up on the year before, many more London councils did far better. That resulted in Westminster falling from 17th place in 2003/2004 to 21st place in the latest figures.

Commenting, local Liberal Democrat Stuart Bonar said:

"The Conservatives speak about the 'excellent services' they deliver in Westminster but coming 21st out of 33 on recycling, and behind other neighbouring councils, is very far from excellent - in fact, some might say they are failing.

"I recycle a sackful of paper every week using the council's blue sacks and I drop all my glass bottles and metal cans off at the nearby recycling bank. I encourage all residents to recycle all they can. But the Conservative councillors must do more - far more - to push up the recycling rate. For starters they could put a link to recycling information on the frontpage of the council's website."

Westminster residents who want to find out more about recycling can do so either by calling the Council's Environment Action Line on 7641 2000 or by visiting www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/rubbishwasteandrecycling/recyclingfacilities