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• Reference: 2001/0232-1
• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

How do you propose to set up effective working partnerships for the implementation of the Mayor's environmental policies? .

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

I wonder if you could tell us how you're proposing to ensure that the boroughs, when they collect recyclable materials, actually have a market for them and they're not left with a large surplus which they have to dispose of themselves?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Except there's nothing more disillusioning for the residents of London who assiduously separate recyclable materials then to discover that those materials are in effect going straight to landfill. For example in the London Borough of Sutton, which turns out in fact to be the pariah of recycling authorities rather than allegedly the angel of recycling authorities, glass which is collected in the London Borough of Sutton goes directly to landfill. It does not pass go and it most definitely doesn't collect £200, and this in the London Borough of Sutton and I suspect over the whole of London is creating...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

What about the general point that I've just made to you about those residents who are very keen to collect recyclable materials, but if they discover that these recyclable materials are not actually being recycled at all how would you suggest that borough councils explain that to their residents?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

So are you suggesting that if there is to be no market for recyclable goods because of perhaps a glut or something, then boroughs should in fact say to their residents, 'Well it's an enormously costly exercise to sort and collect and so on. Just tip it in the ordinary refuse as you would have done before the days of recycling.'

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

It seems to me that public participation is fundamental to achieving, for example, recycling targets and we'll go into that figure in a minute. So how are you going to work with the boroughs and other groups to publicise the benefits of recycling and motivate the public to participate?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Concentrating on financial incentives, which is something you mention in the strategy, is probably not what I think would be the best way forward. It seems to me that it would be helpful if the use of community and voluntary groups were encouraged. For example, I know in Suffolk they've started a composting scheme, a very little group who do very useful things and form part of what you're saying is the alternative. If there were enough little groups doing enough alternatives then the incineration or the presumption against might be presumed a bit quicker. What I'm saying is, what...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

To be honest you seem a bit hazy on it as if it hasn't really grabbed hold of you yet as an idea. So when are you going to come back with that as a proposal to the chair of the Environment Committee?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

I am sure the chair of the Environment Committee will give you a lot of help. Can I move on now to what I'd see as - it has been touched on - the poverty of ambition in terms of the recycling targets? Did they lack ambition? Was it really because you were scared of the response from the boroughs or you thought you would put them into too difficult a position? Or did you not think it might be better to take a lead on this issue which is very difficult? And also the other thing I want to...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

With the Single Waste Authority that the Mayor is going to support, how is that going to be taken forward at this point if he is to establish the Single Waste Authority?