RECYCLING AND REFUSE
WORKING ELSEWHERE
The system proposed for Ealing has
been introduced in many other parts of
the country, and in neighbouring London
boroughs, and proved successful.
For example, one district council in
nearby Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury
Vale, had a recycling rate of just
21% in 2011/12 and was one of
the lowest-performing areas in the
country. However, it switched system
in September 2012. And figures show
that, in the first year, the recycling
rate almost doubled to 38%. It has
continued to grow as more people
embraced the new system and the rate
now stands at 51% (2013/14).
new wheelie bins resulting in less spillage. At
the moment, sacks are prone to being ripped
or splitting – and some recycling containers are
more prone to objects falling out.
‘NECESSARY – AND PROVEN
ELSEWHERE’
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, the council’s
cabinet member for transport and environment,
said: “We have had to consider this option
because, together with other associated savings,
it could help us achieve nearly £2million in
savings annually. It has also worked really well
in neighbouring boroughs that have introduced
it in recent years and could help us reach our
50% recycling target.
“It is an absolute travesty that we throw so
much recyclable material in black bags every
week and, in particular, when one-third of each
bag is, on average, filled with food. Ensuring
we retain a weekly food waste collection would
encourage more households to use the food
waste bins, while helping to prevent vermin and
pests from getting at the rich food source that is
left for them week after week in black bags.
“Change of some kind is necessary given
our financial predicament, but new collection
systems have also proven elsewhere to be the
only significant way to bring about even higher
recycling rates. This is good for the environment
through better use of energy and resources, and
would consequently reduce harmful greenhouse
emissions – all while saving millions of pounds
at the same time.”
More information on the proposed changes
will be made available later this year.
You can see what effect it had on other
London boroughs below. Notably, the
best in west London is now Harrow
– which had a rate of less than 28%
but, since introducing the same kind of
system Ealing could have, this has now
risen to 50% in the space of four years.
How our neighbours compare
Six other London boroughs have
switched to alternate weekly collections
and, the following year, their percentage
of recycled household waste rose.
Bexley – was 41.6%, and rose to 50.6%
(now 54.3%)
*Brent – was 31%, rose to 43%
Bromley – was 40%, rose to 49%
*Haringey – was 24%, rose to 32%
Harrow – was 27.7%, and rose to 50%
in four years
Kingston upon Thames – rose to 46%
Southwark – rose to 30%
*Brent and Haringey introduced the change
in 2012 and were in the top six in the
UK in 2012/13 for the largest percentage
decrease in household domestic waste
going to landfill.
around ealing
Summer 2015
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