Wandsworth Council steps up efforts to tackle plastic pollution


image: Gateway to Putney - Andrew Wilson

Wandsworth Council has announced that it is stepping up its efforts to reduce plastic pollution. The authority is looking at plastic use across all of its buildings with a view of phasing out all unnecessary usage.

Council Leader Ravi Govindia said: “Local authorities must take a stance on this issue and I want Wandsworth to be leading the way in London in tackling plastic pollution.

“We are committed to reducing the use of plastics, which as we know have a devastating effect on the environment and our wildlife. Around eight million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans every year and it’s an obvious step to see what we can do as a council to play our part in getting rid of plastics from all the buildings we own and manage.”

The council will also be working with local schools, community groups, local businesses and its waste management partners with the aim of seeing a reduction in the use of plastic across the borough as a whole.

Councillor Govindia added: “As part of our review we also want to encourage our staff to be responsible in their use of plastics too.

“Just doing something as simple as switching from a disposable plastic bottle to one that is reusable can make a big difference. It’s about getting people to change their behaviours – we can all do our bit to help.”

People can also be assured that none of the plastic collected through Wandsworth’s waste and recycling collection services will ever find its way into the ocean.

The council offers a recycling service for plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays. These should be washed and/or rinsed before being placed in recycling sacks or banks.


image: Belvedere Incinerator byPterre 

And all plastic that finds its way into general household waste is taken by barge to an energy-from-waste incinerator at Belvedere, where it helps generate enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes in London.

Around the borough, the council also has drinking water fountains in Battersea Park and also on Tooting Common, which was refurbished and renovated and brought back into public use as part of the ongoing Tooting Common Heritage Project.

Clean plastic packaging films bearing the “Recycle with carrier bags at larger stores” logo can be recycled at most supermarkets.

The large attendance at the Putney Society meeting on waste and recycling on Monday (22nd January) night reflected the concern most people have about the volume of plastic waste being created. Liz Horsfield from the Western Riverside Waste Authority (WWRA) outlined the way in which recycled waste is processed at their facility and it was reassuring to hear that the plastic waste from the WWRA is processed in the UK so - for the moment - disposal is not affected by the Chinese ban on plastic waste. Michael Singham outlined ways in which Wandsworth is trying to increase recycling rates from all types of dwellings - including flats. There were many questions covering everything from food waste to the fate of Christmas Trees.

Judith Chegwidden, the Chair of the Putney Society said: "The Putney Society has provided a guide to recycling and re-use and this is available on our website www.putneysociety.org.uk and it will be updated regularly. On Saturday 27th January we will be manning a stand in the Exchange (10am - 2pm) with information on ways to reduce plastic consumption and an information sheet on re-use and recycling. We welcome Wandsworth Council's commitment to reduce the consumption of one-use plastics - now we have to extend that to supermarkets and coffee shops".

January 23, 2018