RECYCLING IN LEWISHAM

[leenewham]

Lewisham aren't great at recycling (they recycle around 15%-22% depending on the figures you believe).

What they take from roadside collections is pretty poor at the moment. But good news, potentially. After I tweeted one of the various Lewisham Council tweeters the told me this: 'Current contractor unable to take mixed plastics now but retendering contract this year & hope to change this situation.'

So hopefully they will improve the situation and we can get most plastics recycled rather than just bottles. Obviously it's better to avoid waste in the first place (REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE in that order). But anything is better than putting our waste in landfill.

[michael]

Excellent news today on recycling:

http://recycleforlewisham.com/2011/12/0 ... ontractor/

From December the 5th, residents will be able to recycle the usual items such as paper, cardboard, glass bottles, jars, cans and plastic bottles. In additional to this however, they will also be able to recycle liquid beverage cartons (aka Tetra Paks) and also mixed plastics (i.e. food containers, trays, cups, cling film, CD’s, meat trays, yoghurt pots, ice cream tubs, plastic tubs, party platters, bubble wrap, crisp packets, DVD cases, sandwich packs) – providing that they are clean of course. Empty aerosols are also accepted.

Even clothes and textiles can go in the green bin!

[Tim Lund]

Agreed. This is something to celebrate about Lewisham.

[tizzyness]

This is great news to hear.

I don't think Lewisham make it particularly easy for people either. I noticed that the recycle bins in the Coop car park have been removed. Used to use these regularly when I had too much for our 1 bin between 4 households.

[leenewham]

Brilliant news. I heard about this a while ago and finally they have done it. The wonders of having to contract out and being tied into long term contracts (the reason why this hadn't happened before)

[Annie]

Great news, I hated just putting the plastic not recycled into the landfill bins.

[sophie]

That's excellent as it seemed that we moved backwards when they changed the policy a few years ago - anyone else remember recycling plastics with a 1 or 2 in the triangle?