New survey shows best and worst boroughs for recycling

Campaigners have today [18 July 2024] published a report showing which London boroughs top the recycling charts and which are the rubbish bins of London.

The best boroughs for recycling are Ealing (Ranked 1^st), Kingston (2^nd) and Bromley (3^rd). But Westminster (33^rd), Newham (32^nd) and Tower Hamlets (31^st) are the boroughs which have the worst impact on the planet from household waste management in London.

• The report shows a stark contrast between London Boroughs in how much household waste is recycled or composted, with best boroughs, Ealing and Bromley both at 48% and worst borough, Tower Hamlets at 18%.
• There is also a big difference in the total kilograms of rubbish and recycling collected per person, which varies from 215kg in best borough Lambeth, to 390kg in worst borough Havering.
• Ultimately this means that there is also a big difference in the kg per person of waste sent for disposal (landfill or incineration). The worst ranking borough Westminster sent the most household waste for disposal – 291kg per person. Ealing sent the least – 116kg per person.

Jacob Lockwood of CPRE London said: “The lower ranking boroughs drag the London average down and contribute to London being the second worst region in the country when it comes to recycling.”

London had the second worst household waste out of all the regions in England, with a recycling rate of 33% in 2022/23. The lowest rate was 31% in the North East and the highest was 49% in the south west. London’s recycling rate has not improved since reaching its highest rate of 34% in 2011/12, instead its rate has been declining slightly.

The campaigners say Boroughs should set a target of 50% of household waste sent for recycling or composting by 2030; ensure all households have recycling and food waste collections; and communicate more effectively with residents about what they are required to do while also using enforcement powers for persistent misuse of the recycling services.

[1] The report is published by CPRE London which is part of the More Natural Capital coalition.

[2] The report, based on 2022/23 household waste recycling date, is published here.