Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment that provided details of the progress against the current Recycling Action Plan. Members were advised that the current recycling rate was 31%, which did not meet the 2015 target of 45% set by the City of London Waste Strategy 2013. The Assistant Director of Cleansing Operations and Street Environment explained that this was due to the introduction of the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) Code of Practice in October 2014 which set stricter quality standards for recyclable materials being sent for reprocessing. He added that the City Corporation’s recycling materials were of a consistently high quality.

In response to Members’ questions, the Assistant Director advised that recycling targets and plans were benchmarked against other major European cities. The high proportion of Flats in Central London compared with other areas and cities made high recycling rates difficult to achieve. In response to a Member’s suggestion, the Assistant Director added that incentive initiatives to encourage residents and business to recycle, similar to those used in other London Boroughs, would be looked into.

In response to a Member’s request, that Assistant Director advised that Amey and the Middlesex Street Estate Managers would be contacted regarding the level of recycling and general waste storage.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.