New report highlights London boroughs' commitment to drive up recycling in the capital

A new report revealing how London's boroughs have been working successfully in partnership with one another and the private sector to drive up recycling in the capital has been welcomed by London Councils.

The London Recycling Fund Report was released today, Wednesday 18 July, by London Waste Action. The report details the activities of the Fund to help improve sustainable waste management in London.

From 2002-2006, the London Recycling Fund allocated grants totalling £50 million to 134 projects covering a wide range of recycling and waste minimisation initiatives. Many of these projects have been either led by, or have closely involved, one of London's local authorities.

In London, recycling is expected to have increased by 15 per cent when audited figures for 2006/07 are released this year. This means that nearly 25 per cent of London's waste is recycled. 

The London Recycling Fund will now be replaced by the new London Waste and Recycling Fund to be managed by the proposed statutory body, the London Waste and Recycling Board - something London Councils lobbied for through the Greater London Authority Bill.

Welcoming the report, the Chairman of London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, Councillor Daniel Moylan said:

"This report highlights the range of efforts and initiatives that can be found across the boroughs to improve sustainable waste management in London. It is the boroughs who have been leading the way in driving up the capitals' recycling rate, and they who have worked closely with their communities to help reduce the amount of waste London sends to landfill.

"This is why the government has decided to keep London's boroughs at the centre of the capital's waste management by giving them a key role in its proposed London Waste and Recycling Board, which will carry on the London Recycling Fund's good work.

"The London Recycling Fund has proved highly successful in assisting London's boroughs to improve how waste in the capital is managed, both in their individual efforts, and in their partnerships across boroughs lines and with the private sector.

"The real message behind this report is that through pan-London cooperation between the boroughs, the private sector, and the Mayor's office, we can improve the way London manages its waste. The boroughs have made significant progress in the last few years, as this report shows. But we now need to renew our efforts, and use the government's proposals to take our efforts to improve London's waste management to the next level."