The latest recycling figures have been published by North London Waste Authority (NLWA) ahead of Recycle Week (17-23 June)
The figures have shown an increase of 3.0 percentage points to 33.9%, compared to the same time in 2011/12. The figures include waste and recycling in the north London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
The ‘National WasteDataFlow’ figures for July to September 2012 show that 33.9% of north London’s household waste was recycled (which included seasonally high levels of waste sent for composting, and reuse) up from 30.9% at the same time last year. Of the total amount of waste collected by the boroughs, 23% went to landfill, compared to 19% at the same time last year. The rest went for energy recovery.
North London’s councils have set targets to increase recycling to 50% of household waste or more by 2020, and for landfill to fall to 15% or less of the total in the same period. The Mayor of London has also set a target for London’s waste to landfill to fall to zero by 2037.
Cllr Clyde Loakes, chair of NLWA, said: “The progress north Londoners are making is encouraging. The figures continue to move in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go to reach the 50% target.”
To help residents understand waste and recycling and what they can do to help, NLWA provides comprehensive waste and recycling information to north London through its Wise Up to Waste initiative. It aims to raise awareness of waste and what happens to it when it leaves the doorstep through a series of initiatives including the “R£CYCLE – Can you afford not to?” campaign, which illustrates the financial benefits of recycling for communities, and the existing food waste minimisation programme.
The area’s 1.7 million residents are being encouraged to visit the new website (www.wiseuptowaste.org.uk) for further information about the campaign and programmes, including the upcoming events and road shows around north London, new videos explaining what happens to waste, and tips and guidance on shopping smart, wasting less and recycling more.
Source: http://www.nlwa.gov.uk
