Lambeth council’s cabinet is to consider plans to update its waste strategy as part of efforts to get 65 per cent of local household waste recycled by 2030.
Under the proposals to go before the cabinet on Wednesday 20 September, collection would remain weekly for all recycling services, including food waste, dry mixed recyclables, garden waste and the collection of small electrical items.
Collection of non-recyclable waste from on-street properties with wheelie bins would move to fortnightly. Communal waste collection on estates would remain weekly.
The change could be piloted on two collection routes that mainly run through West Dulwich and Tulse Hill in February next year, with a roll out across the whole borough from April.
Fortnightly waste collection has already been introduced in more than half of London’s boroughs. The council said data shows that this works to boost recycling. In Hackney, recycling rates of on-street properties increased by 7 percent following the change.
Lambeth council has committed to 37 per cent of waste being recycled by 2025 to help the borough become more sustainable on its journey to Net Zero, but currently only 32 per cent of waste is being recycled.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, council cabinet member for sustainable Lambeth and clean air, said: “We are ambitious in our environmental goals and a London leader when it comes to putting in place the measures needed to achieve net zero by 2030.
“We want to create a borough where people recycle more, re-use more and waste less.
“This is something we can all embrace as we look to act locally to address the global issues of climate change, extreme weather conditions and limited resources.”
The council said a consultation with residents using online surveys and in-person drop-in sessions was organised to develop the proposal and that it had analysed feedback and came up with proposasl to address concerns raised.
If adopted, the move would allow a reduction in the number of vehicles required for the council’s waste collection services, cutting emissions and congestion and contributing to cleaner air.
Council figures show as much as 70 per cent of normal household waste could be recycled if it was put in the right bin, but currently the borough’s overall recycling rate is less than half that.
To read the full report and for more details of the cabinet meeting visit moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk. To find out more about recycling and re-use services in Lambeth visit www.lambeth.gov.uk.
