Comment given to Croydon Guardian on waste

Latest figures for 2007/8 on composting of household waste reveal the gulf that exists between the best and worst London boroughs. Harrow comes top, managing to send 18% of its household waste for composting. By comparison six London boroughs manage less than 1% (Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Lewisham, City of London, Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets).

"What these performance statistics actually show is that just under 95% of Croydon’s organic waste is dumped in landfill. This has a double whammy effect because not only are kitchen food scraps and garden waste a lost resource if not used correctly, the resulting methane emissions from this type of waste, if sent to landfill, is harmful to our climate.

Once again, we find that this council is short on ambition when it comes to waste management. Holding events like Eco Expo is all very well but if it is not backed up by policy with regard to the environment then voters will realise its all for show.

Why isn’t Croydon’s composting rate up there with Harrow? After all, it’s not Hamburg we’re talking about, with its 57% recycling rate – its Harrow another London borough!!!"

Local Authorities League Table below:

Percentage of household waste sent for composting or anaerobic digestion -

Harrow 18.20

Bexley 17.62

Hillingdon 12.58

Barnet 12.42

Richmond upon Thames 11.54

Enfield 10.11
Waltham Forest 10.05

Sutton 9.86

Brent 8.90

Ealing 7.86

Havering 7.82

Bromley 6.84

Kingston upon Thames 6.66

Haringey 6.57

Hackney 6.53

Croydon 6.29

Barking and Dagenham 5.58

Islington 5.41

Redbridge 5.00

Greenwich 4.78

Hounslow 4.26

Southwark 4.02

Merton 3.75

Camden 3.23

Lambeth 2.58

Newham 2.06

Hammersmith and Fulham 1.50

Kensington and Chelsea 0.90

Westminster City Council 0.84

Lewisham 0.58

City of London 0.38

Wandsworth 0.29

Tower Hamlets 0.15

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Tags croydon, greenparty