Councils launch waste and recycling website

Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton councils set up the website so that citizens can view "clear and detailed information" about how waste from 335,000 households is managed. The local authorities are all part of the South London Waste Management Partnership, which aims to provide better and cheaper ways of dealing with waste through collaborative working. The website is divided into three sections: - 'who we are' – an introduction to the boroughs, councillors, council officers and commercial partners that make up the South London Waste Partnership; - 'what we do' – detailed information on the activities of the partnership and; - 'why we do it' – an overview of the environmental, financial and legislative reasons why local councils across the country are having to radically change the way they treat and dispose of household waste. Phil Thomas, the cabinet member for environment and highways at Croydon, said that research has shown that 94% of residents living in the four boroughs believe it is important to reduce the amount of waste sent to a landfill. "But when they were asked what we should do with that waste instead, the most common response was 'I don't know'. So while there are high levels of awareness that landfill isn't a sustainable option, there's also a lack of knowledge about alternatives," he explained. "This website gives residents an insight into those alternatives and an understanding of how their recycling and rubbish will be treated and disposed of in years to come."