Recycling and Composting
Even if you reduce and re-use as much as possible, it is almost inevitable that you will generate some waste.
The current focus of the Partnership is to minimise the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
By recycling and composting as much of that waste as possible, you can dramatically reduce the impact it has on the environment and help your local council save money in waste treatment and disposal costs; which ultimately helps you save money through your council tax.
With the help and commitment of residents, the four Partner Boroughs that make up the South London Waste Partnership are all making substantial progress in this area, with recycling and composting rates steadily rising.
But more needs to be done if we are to meet the challenging landfill reduction targets that have been set by central government.
As recycling and composting rates continue to rise, it is essential that the four Partner Boroughs have access to efficient, local sorting and processing facilities that can cope with the increased demand. To date, the Partnership has awarded two key contracts to ensure that local recycling and composting facilities are able to meet this increased demand:
- Management of the six Household Reuse and Recycling Centres
(more commonly known as ‘the dump’ or ‘the tip’) – this contract was awarded by the Partnership to a company called Environmental Waste Controls (EWC) in 2008. Since EWC took over management of the six sites, recycling and compositing rates have leapt from 50% to around 75%.
- Material Recycling Facilities, Composting and Additional Treatment
(including kitchen and green waste) – this contract was awarded to Viridor Waste Management in 2008. The contract gives the Partnership access to sorting facilities for dry recycling at Crayford in Kent; industrial composting facilities for kitchen and garden waste in Sutton and Mitcham; and energy from waste facilities to treat a relatively small amount of residual waste in Slough, Berkshire.
Both contracts are due to run until the year 2022 and have the option of being extended by a further five years.
How can you help?
- Make full use of the doorstep recycling collection service and neighbourhood recycling points operated by your local council.
- Many items that can’t be recycled from your doorstep (such as books, DIY rubble, electrical appliances and scrap metal) can be taken to your local Household Re-use and Recycling Centre
- Compost your food waste, either using a composter in your garden or by using your local council’s food waste collection service (available in certain areas – visit your council’s web site for details).
- Remember to recycle in every room of your house – the bathroom is a favourite hiding place for items that could be recycled but often end up in landfill (shampoo and shower gel bottles, cardboard toilet roll tubes etc)
Details of local recycling services and facilities can be found by visiting:
There are many reasons why it’s important to recycle and compost as much as possible.