Londoners urged to double recycling rates

London could save up to £320 million by 2015 if the capital's residents doubled their recycling efforts, according to London Mayor Boris Johnson.


It currently costs London’s 33 boroughs 25% more to dispose of ‘black bin’ waste than to recycle it. With an estimated 80% of the average bin content able to be recycled, the mayor is urging londoners to recycle more.

The Recycle for London campaign will feature on sites across the capital’s transport network and will alert Londoners to the environmental and financial benefit of recycling more.

Boris Johnson said: “Recycling our waste material makes sound economic as well as environmental sense. This fantastic new campaign brings home the simple but powerful message that every item recycled rather than binned, collectively saves the city big bucks.”

The Mayor was joined in his recycling appeal by Magic FM Breakfast Show host and keen recycler Neil Fox, who returns his plastic bags each week after his online shop.

Fox said: “I had wondered just how cost-effective recycling really was. Having seen the facts and figures I am staggered at how much cash we as a city could save by recycling more.”

Maxine Perella

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