Overflowing tower block recycling bins depicting the waste problems.
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Waste authorities have told the London Assembly that the national scheme for food recycling will be more difficult to implement across London, and solutions are needed.
Wayne Hubbard, is CEO of ReLondon, which works on the city’s waste problems with the Mayor of London.
He says the rental population and large number of flats, many without proper rubbish systems, will cause low participation.
The plan does not explain how this will be overcome: ”A large proportion of Londoners are moving around and renting for short periods. They’re less connected to the borough they live in and so feel less motivation to recycle.”
“Individuals in short-term rentals often have less knowledge about how to recycle correctly because, many boroughs use different container systems.”
“Will London be recognised as having difficulties in terms of transience, communications, and lack of proper infrastructure? These questions haven’t been answered.”
“Whilst we welcome the overall announcement, the actual details of the implementation of it are still to be worked out.”
Islington’s waste manager Matthew Homer, agrees with Mr Hubbard about the struggles of London recycling in rented properties. He states: “There is nothing that requires landlords to facilitate these [recycling] collections.”
“We’ve been knocking on landlords’ doors saying, we need to provide your residents with food waste services. Unless we are given access… we cannot provide the service to the residents”.
“They [some landlords] are just generally disinterested. They don’t want extra bins on their block, they may feel there is no space or the bins are going to be smelly. They may be absent landlords who we can’t contact in the first place”.
Officials also believe there will be supply issues with the equipment needed for food waste collection.
Ray Parmenter, Head of Policy at one of the UK’s waste management professional bodies says, “About half of English authorities currently collect food waste in some shape or form … if everybody is going to buy bins and vehicles at the same time that’s going to be logistically a nightmare”.
“We’ve got until 2026 to get our act in gear and it’s going to be a tough challenge for this sector”.
The Simpler Recycling reforms were announced at the end of last month.
They explain that all councils will now be required to recycle food waste, as well as a list of other items by April 2026.
At the moment, households in Tower Hamlets can put their food waste in a caddy for recycling collection. In neighbouring borough Newham, there is no collection of food waste.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were unable to provide a comment.
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HeadlineQuestions must be answered about London’s new recycling plan, says industry officials
Short HeadlineLondon's recycling showing 'difficulties' surrounding new plan
StandfirstThe plan, which aims to ''boost recycling'', will force all councils across the capital to collect food waste by April 2026.
Waste authorities have told the London Assembly that the national scheme for food recycling will be more difficult to implement across London, and solutions are needed.
Wayne Hubbard, is CEO of ReLondon, which works on the city’s waste problems with the Mayor of London.
He says the rental population and large number of flats, many without proper rubbish systems, will cause low participation.
The plan does not explain how this will be overcome: ”A large proportion of Londoners are moving around and renting for short periods. They’re less connected to the borough they live in and so feel less motivation to recycle.”
“Individuals in short-term rentals often have less knowledge about how to recycle correctly because, many boroughs use different container systems.”
“Will London be recognised as having difficulties in terms of transience, communications, and lack of proper infrastructure? These questions haven’t been answered.”
“Whilst we welcome the overall announcement, the actual details of the implementation of it are still to be worked out.”
Islington’s waste manager Matthew Homer, agrees with Mr Hubbard about the struggles of London recycling in rented properties. He states: “There is nothing that requires landlords to facilitate these [recycling] collections.”
“We’ve been knocking on landlords’ doors saying, we need to provide your residents with food waste services. Unless we are given access… we cannot provide the service to the residents”.
“They [some landlords] are just generally disinterested. They don’t want extra bins on their block, they may feel there is no space or the bins are going to be smelly. They may be absent landlords who we can’t contact in the first place”.
Officials also believe there will be supply issues with the equipment needed for food waste collection.
Ray Parmenter, Head of Policy at one of the UK’s waste management professional bodies says, “About half of English authorities currently collect food waste in some shape or form … if everybody is going to buy bins and vehicles at the same time that’s going to be logistically a nightmare”.
“We’ve got until 2026 to get our act in gear and it’s going to be a tough challenge for this sector”.
The Simpler Recycling reforms were announced at the end of last month.
They explain that all councils will now be required to recycle food waste, as well as a list of other items by April 2026.
At the moment, households in Tower Hamlets can put their food waste in a caddy for recycling collection. In neighbouring borough Newham, there is no collection of food waste.
