GREEN DREAMS

 WHAT SHOULD WANDSWORTH DO TO IMPROVE RECYCLING 

The effects of global warming are now well known as well as accepted by the majority of scientific opinion.

Many people tell us they are keen to do more for the planet.

One thing we can all do is to improve recycling of our own household rubbish. This should be facilitated by a much stronger lead from Wandsworth Council, as they are responsible for rubbish collection services.

There have been some improvements made by Wandsworth, particularly the provision of the orange bag collection service. However, the council should do much more to promote higher levels household rubbish recycling. Wandsworth still has a very poor record compared to other London boroughs.

Sutton Council (run by the Liberal Democrats) is the top performer in London. Sutton recycles over a quarter of all its household waste.

The Wandsworth figure was just 17.5 per cent in the last year figures are available (2003-4).

Wandsworth should develop a full plastics recycling service (currently there is a very limited service), provide composting bins for recycling kitchen/vegetable waste and collect and recycle green garden waste.

It should recycle white goods, including fridges and washing machines, as well as computer parts, ink cartridges, and unwanted furniture.

I would be interested to hear from your readers. Wandsworth Council might be interested to consider readers’ views, take note of any suggestions and hopefully improve its performance in recycling.

Jeremy Ambache, Putney Liberal Democrats

Published in WBN - Friday 23rd September 2005