Euston sets capital example with recycling bins

Euston, one of London’s busiest rail stations, is to have ‘dual slot’ bins installed to encourage recycling.

Twelve bins, with one slot for landfill waste and another for recycling, will be placed in the station next week.

Commuters at the station will be able to recycle drinks cans, plastic bottles, and newspapers in the bins.

The bins will stay for six months, and – if the trial proves successful – similar bins will be rolled out at stations and other locations across the capital.

London is the worst region in the country for recycling. In 2005/6 Britain’s capital city recycled just 18% of its rubbish.

Euston station, however, is in Camden, one of the city’s cleanest boroughs.

Tom McMahon, head of street environment at Camden council, said the council wants to ‘keep it that way’.

A recent scheme in the borough prevents litter by controlling the handing out of leaflets, flyers and free newspapers around Euston Station, St Pancreas, Camden Town and Kings Cross.

Anyone wanting to give these out to passers by, now has to apply for a special permit from the council.

McMahon hopes that Camden will continue lead the way, setting an example for the rest of the capital.

However, Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly, said he is ‘appalled’ that Mayor Boris Johnson has not yet acted on his promise to increase recycling.

Tuffey said that the time for rhetoric is over and called from some meat on the bones of the promises.