Johnson:"Unless the Mayor provides a clear plan of action, the boroughs that have the worst recycling rates will be hit hardest"

The targets for household recycling proposed by the London Mayor in his new draft Municipal Waste Strategy fall well short of those recommended in January 2010 by a Parliamentary Select Committee. Whereas the Select Committee proposed a target of 60% of municipal waste to be recycled by 2020, the Mayor is proposing a target of only 50% by the same date. Lewisham Councillor and Chair of the London Assembly, Darren Johnson, will be recommending the Mayor sets higher targets.

Darren Johnson commented:
"The Mayor should be setting ambitious targets that at the very least reflect current thinking. He should focus his efforts on the boroughs that are performing badly".

"Unless the Mayor provides a clear plan of action, the boroughs that currently have the worst recycling rates stand to be hit hardest with fines resulting from not being able to divert waste from landfill. These fines will ultimately be passed onto the council tax payer".

Notes to editors
1. The Mayor’s draft Municipal Waste Management Strategy, Jan 2010 http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/waste/docs/draft-mun-waste-strategy-jan2010.pdf The targets for recycling/composting of at least 45% by 2015, 50% by 2020, and 60% by 2031 of household waste.
2. House of Commons, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Waste Strategy for England 2007 – third report of session 2009-10 Volume 1, Jan 2010 http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environment__food_and_rural_affairs/efrawastestrategy.cfm This select committee is recommending that DEFRA should raise its recycling targets to 50% by 2015 and 60% by 2020 of household waste.