Barnet's recycling programme, which is the result of an innovative partnership between the council and ECT Recycling, the UK’s largest community recycling organisation, has won a “best in category” award for its multi-material recycling. The award, which was presented at the Labour Party’s local government conference, beat off stiff competition from 170 other entries to win in the category of 'Working together'. The award is one of the top three awards in the Labour Party Best Practice Awards Competition.
Barnet’s multi-material doorstep recycling service is part of the council’s WasteWise initiative which aims to increase the amount of household waste recycled over the next few years. Last year the recycling rate was 7% and Barnet aims to increase this to 18% by 2003/4.
Alan Williams, leader of Barnet Council and leader of the Labour Group, said: “We aim to provide high quality services that are good value for money for our residents. The recycling scheme is one example of the good work being undertaken in Barnet. I know our residents and colleagues in the council will share our pride at Barnet being given this prestigious award.”
ECT won two seven-year contracts for recycling work in Barnet worth about 1million a year in the summer. The contracts started on October 1 and included a 250,000 contract for ECT to run a civic amenity and recycling site and another to set up kerbside recycling for all homes in the borough.
The majority of households in Barnet have now been given a black recycling box to recycle paper, glass, cans, tin foil, textiles, shoes, engine oil, car and household batteries, as well Yellow Pages and all of Barnet’s 116,000 houses will receive the service by April. A new recycling service is also being launched for the borough’s 13,000 flats following consultation with tenants which will see recycling banks put into estates. These will be in place by December.
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