Kingston doubles recycling in one year

A round of applause to Kingston, which has managed to double its recycling rate in just one year.

The London borough recycled 47% of its waste in January-March 2009, compared to just 25% during the same period the previous year.

Its total amount sent to landfill in the 2008-09 financial year was 4,442 tonnes, down from 7,363 tonnes in 2007-08.

Kingston Council believes its success is due to a new recycling scheme where residents are given separate recycling containers for food waste, paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and batteries.

Council leader Derek Osbourne said: “To have reached a point where we are recycling 47 per cent of our household waste just nine months after introducing the new collection service is remarkable.

“Credit for this achievement must go to the residents of the borough, who have embraced the new collection service and have changed they way they deal with their household waste.”

The council has set itself a new challenge to be recycling and composting more waste than it sends to landfill by this time next year.

“That really would be a landmark achievement that we could all be very proud of,” Osbourne said.

It also plans to make it even easier for local residents to recycle and compost, especially for people living in flats.

Well done to Kingston – you have proved that people are willing to recycle if it’s made a simple part of their every life.