Westminster still lagging behind on recycling

5.09.53pm GMT Mon 27th Nov 2006

Quite simply, we need to recycle much more of our waste

Conservative-run Westminster City Council is still delivering a "lacklustre performance" on recycling, according to the latest official figures released this month.

The figures, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, revealed that Westminster managed to recycle 18.6% of household waste in 2005/2006.

Statistics for other London boroughs reveal that Westminster is worse at recycling than very many of them: Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Hillingdon, Merton, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, and Waltham Forest are all doing better. Plus, the Council finished behind the Western Riverside Waste Authority, which disposes of waste from Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, and Wandsworth.

Additionally, Westminster's recycling rate was only a fraction of one percent ahead of Ealing, Hounslow, and Islington.

Reacting, local Liberal Democrat Sophie Service said:

"Other central London councils facing similar challenges to Westminster - a high number of flats, for example - are performing better.

"Council staff may well be working very hard to improve the situation, but the Conservative councillors are failing to make this a political priority. Until the councillors throw their weight behind a determined drive to increase recycling in Westminster we will continue to lag behind so many other London councils

"The Conservatives have been in control of Westminster for decades and have a massive majority on the Council. They have no-one else to blame for this lacklustre performance."

Residents wanting to find out how to recycle more can contact the Council's recycling team for information and advice on 020 7641 2000.