What’s Your 40 all about?
Your 40 is all about doing your bit to recycle 40 per cent of our waste by 2011. We have received lots of feedback from residents on recycling and we are trying to create a better service to encourage you to recycle more, but we still need you to do your bit by recycling and reusing, and encouraging others to do the same.
Why should I care about this target?
Waltham Forest, and other London councils, must be recycling 40 per cent of its waste by 2011. This is a target set by the Government.
In 2010/11 the Government will introduce strict guidelines on the amount of waste we can send to landfill. In an ideal world we would not send any waste to landfill, we would either recycle or reuse waste, but at the moment this is not always possible.
Why does this affect me?
The Government will charge us £150 for every tonne we send to landfill, over the target, these charges will be paid for out of the Council Tax you pay.
Ok, so I need to recycle more, what can I recycle?
If you are taking part in the mixed recycling trial there are certain items you can recycle.
If you are not taking part in the mixed recycling trial you can recycle these items.
What are the Council doing to provide us with more opportunities to recycle?
Throughout the year there are a variety of schemes that we will be trialling to increase recycling. We are hoping to introduce dual refuse and recycling onstreet bins across the borough, and next year be able to recycle more types of plastic.
We are rolling out recycling to estates, and have received positive feedback from residents on the scheme. A mixed recycling trial started in April across different parts of the borough and we have seen a large increase in the amount people are recycling in this area. We need this increase to continue.
We know as a council we have a responsibility to recycle, but we need your help to reach that 40 per cent target.
I want to recycle plastics, why don’t the Council provide this service?
At the moment you can only recycle plastic bottles within Waltham Forest, as this is London Waste (where we send our recycling) will recycle, but we are looking at ways in which we will be able to recycle more plastic such as yogurt pots, butter tubs and tetra pack in the future.
