Posted on 28th July 2015 by Hintons
London is generally abuzz with activity and bustling with life, so it’s no surprise that most assume it’s also great at recycling and looking after its surrounding environment. Unfortunately though, this isn’t the case. In fact, our capital is pretty poor at it, and this article looks to discuss the problems it faces and the potential reasons behind it.
A bad recycling example
The recycling initiative is something that has become an important issue in many people’s minds over the last decade or so, with everyone now having recycling bins alongside their regular bins waiting to be emptied, and many trying to remember to separate the plastics and cardboard from the general rubbish. This attempt to help the environment and generally be a bit more conscious of the world around us has become the norm, but it’s still not as good as it could be, and London is setting a bad example for the rest of the country.
To give you an idea of the problem at hand, only 33.9% of household waste was recycled in London last year, which is quite a shocking statistic. This is only slightly less than the previous year, where it had climbed to 34%. This marginal drop is not a good sign either, because it indicates that attitudes towards recycling in the capital are actually getting worse rather than getting better.
Why are recycling figures falling?
Many people think that there hasn’t been enough focus from the Government to push this as a hot topic, where they could have forced it to the forefront of the 2015 election campaigns. Some people even consider the Green Party, known for their environmental values, to not have focused on it as much as they could have done in the last election.
This is just one potential reason, with others thinking that there’s a ‘one size fits all’ approach that just isn’t cutting it, considering how diverse London and its cultures are. Different boroughs have different needs, with communities which should be approached and communicated with to find out what would best help them recycle more of their waste.
Finally, it has been said that there’s nothing really pushing people to recycle instead of throwing things in with their general rubbish. Let’s face it, when there’s a rubbish bin on every street corner, we’re more likely to put our plastic bottles in it than wait until we spot a recycling bin. Landfill tax generally has the greatest impact on this, so the decision lies in the hands of the EU or national policymakers to ensure it’s a priority instead of an afterthought.
While London recycling has plenty of room for improvement, here at Danjo’s Skip Hire we’re proud to say we prioritise it. We ensure 90% of our waste is recycled, so you know your rubbish is in safe hands and that you too will be doing your bit for the environment. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you with your recycling.