Camden commuters recycle as they go

Commuters at one of London's busiest train and tube stations no longer have an excuse not to recycle their rubbish as they make their way to and from the rat race every day.


Twelve dual recycling and litter bins have been installed at Euston Station to allow travellers to recycle their papers, plastic bottles and cans.

Camden Council has installed the bins in the station for a six-month trial which, if successful, could result in the scheme being rolled out across the borough.

Council chiefs said thousands of people who pass through the busy transport hub every day often put their recyclables into bins rather than recycling, and extra litter is created by companies giving out flyers and newspapers.

“Camden is one of the capital’s cleanest boroughs and we want to keep it that way,” said Tom McMahon, the council’s head of street environment.

“We hope that commuters using Euston station set an example to the rest of London by recycling what they can when using this station and help us make this new trial a success.”

The council said the dual containers being used in the trial will make it easier for people to recycle and cut down on clutter in the station.

The scheme follows the council’s recent adoption of new powers to prevent litter.

Under the controls, anyone who wants to hand out flyers, leaflets and free newspapers in certain areas, including Euston Station, Kings Cross and St Pancras, and Camden Town, have to apply to the council for a permit.

Camden Council has been working with the publisher of both thelondonpaper and the London Lite to cut down the litter caused by discarded free newspapers.

A similar agreement exists between the newspapers and Westminster City Council (see related story).

Camden Council’s new bins follow the launch of Government’s Recycle on the Go pilot scheme in June.

You can watch waste minister Joan Ruddock explain the thinking behind the scheme below.

Kate Martin

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