Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Director of the Built Environment.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect to the project to increase recycling on Middlesex Street Estate.

Recycling performance across the City of London had been stagnating in comparison to national performance. In June-July 2018 42% properties in the Middlesex Street estate were participating in Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR) and 25% in food waste. Officers intended to trial a recycling incentivisation scheme by offering Middlesex Street estate a one-off £1000 award for communal use in the Estate for a 5% increase in participation. It was noted that a 50% rate of DMR participation would be considered a “good” level.

The percentage figures were due to be updated following the collection of more recent data and would be reported both in numerical and percentage terms to the May HMASC meeting. It was clarified that the data pertained to the number of household’s involved in recycling, as opposed to the tonnage of recycling and waste collected.

The City’s recycling was collected and transported to the contractor’s UK recycling centre, at which it was processed mechanically and bailed into various types. Bails were then taken to a mixture of mainly domestic but some foreign plants, including France, India and China, for processing. These destinations were determined by the contractor and changed periodically.

Following a question from a Member, officers confirmed that the Corporation would continue to engage with supermarkets to encourage plastic wrap minimisation.

RECEIVED.