Recycling made easier after Council follows LibDem advice (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

Recycling made easier after Council follows LibDem advice

July 31, 2006 12:00 PM

LibDems are pressing for more recycling in Westminster

A link to information about how to recycle more has been added to the frontpage of Westminster Council's website after calls to do so from the Liberal Democrats.

The call to make recycling information more easily accessible was made by local LibDems after an analysis of official government figures revealed Westminster's poor recycling record.

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 Martin Thompson, said:

"I am very pleased that the Council is listening to the Liberal Democrats' common sense advice.

"Recycling is an important way in which individuals can lessen their environmental footprint. Government at all levels has to help the individual to be environmentally responsible. The Conservatives are guilty of complacency - apparently oblivious to the importance of recycling and failing to give it proper priority until prodded by us."

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.