An Assembly investigation into barriers to greater recycling in London

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The Assembly investigated the state of waste production by Greater London and was concerned to discover how relatively little is being recycled. London boroughs collect over 4 million tonnes of waste a year, over 3 million tonnes of it from households, and only 7 per cent of that household waste is being recycled. Landfill site space is rapidly running out and mass burn or bury are no longer environmentally acceptable solutions. This report examines what is stopping London boroughs from meeting the government's recycling targets, considers the contribution recycling and composting can make to the achievement of EU Landfill Directive targets, and discusses what can be done about the projected growth in waste. The Assembly reminds us that waste is a valuable resource, capable of generating jobs and products of benefit to us all.