Lib Dems score victory for recycling in North London

6.01.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jul 2009

Islington's Lib Dem environment chief Greg Foxsmith visited a plastics recycling plant and resolved to introduce mixed plastics recycling in Islington.

Islington's Liberal Democrat environment chief Greg Foxsmith was celebrating this week after he led a successful campaign at the North London Waste Authority to introduce recycling for mixed plastics and tetrapacks across North London.

From October, Islington residents will be able to include mixed plastics and tetrapacks- the cartons used to hold juice or soup- into their recycling for kerbside collection.

The Liberal Democrats fought to agree the change on the North London Waste Authority, the consortium of North London councils that deals with rubbish over seven boroughs.

Councillor Foxsmith said:

"We are on a mission to increase recycling in Islington. I found it frustrating that we could only put plastic bottles in our green bins, and other plastics had to go to landfill. I visited recycling facilities where different plastics could be recycled, and was determined that this option should be available to our residents.

"Recycling rates in Islington have gone from just 3.5% under the last Labour council to over 30% today. Along with our brand new recycling trucks, this mixed plastic and tetrapack will take us to the next level. Recycling in Islington is still getting better all the time."