Your recycling bags eco award

By Lara Cerroni

26 July 2010

Residents have got something to shout about after the borough received a prestigious national award for their mammoth recycling effort.

Beating off stiff competition from councils across the country, Tower Hamlets picked up one of the country’s most coveted environment awards – the Local Authority Target Success award at the MRW National Recycling Awards 2010.

Lead councillor for the environment Shahed Ali said: “This is a fantastic achievement and is a testament to the commitment and dedication of Tower Hamlets residents, staff and collection crews.

“Not so long ago we were the worst council in the country for recycling and now we’re one of the fastest improving.”

Pascal Hauret, London municipal operations director at Veolia Environmental Services which runs the council’s waste collection and recycling service, said: “I am really delighted that our work to promote recycling has been recognised with this award.

“The council and Veolia have worked together on improvements and it has really paid off. We want residents to continue their good efforts so that we can continue to make a real difference to the environment.”

Over the past two years recycling rates have nearly doubled in Tower Hamlets, rising from just 13 per cent in 2007/08 to well above 26 per cent in 2009/10.

Along with Veolia, the council introduced an innovative £1.5 million recycling improvement plan. Improvements included recycling of litter, a weekly garden waste service for all kerbside properties, and a food waste collection service for all houses, 6,000 flats and all schools in the borough.

This was all supported by the We Can Recycle More campaign which saw the launch of Mr Recycle More – a giant robot made from recycling bins.