Islington recycling scheme having a "positive impact"

Environmentally aware individuals living in property to rent in Islington may be interested to hear that the local council's compulsory recycling scheme is having a "positive impact".

Organisers have put together a progress report on the scheme, which began in April, and will be presented to the council's executive members next week.

It shows that the overall weight of waste recycled during April to July 2011 was 7,129 tonnes, up from 6,990 in the same period last year.

On top of that, provisional recycling figures for April and May 2011 are 33.13 per cent and 32.19 per cent, compared with 30.4 per cent for 2010/11 overall.

As a result of the initiative, more than 5,000 requests for extra recycling containers were made to the council, the report adds.

Financially, it says, the borough saved a total of £500,000 last year as a result of the scheme, as recycling costs less than waste disposal.

The study continues: "The compulsory recycling policy has had a positive impact on recycling in Islington, although we will have to ensure residents remain aware of the policy and the importance of recycling to ensure significant benefits are realised through savings in waste disposal."

Councillor Paul Smith, Islington Council's executive member for environment, said he was "very pleased" with the way local residents have emraced the move to increase the level of recycling.

"Islington was the London borough hardest-hit by government cuts and recycling saves money which can be spent on local services, instead of being thrown away," he continued. "However, we are finding a selfish few who still refuse to recycle and in coming weeks we will be stepping up enforcement against those who refuse to do their bit to help their community save money."

Compulsory recycling applies to all residents and people who refuse to do so despite repeated advice face a Fixed Penalty Notice of £110.

Last month, Islington Council revealed it cut a total of a total of £322,000 from residents' fuel bills this winter in Archway, as part of a London-wide Low Carbon Zone initiative.

Posted by  Chris Price

Published 8th September, 2011

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