Kingston reaches a new borough record recycling rate of 52 per cent

Food wastage in Kingston is now being recycled at a rate of 52 per cent, from April to July 2019, according to Kingston Council.

The last reported percentage from April 2018 to March 2019 had been at a rate of 49.4 per cent, according to the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) website.

An RBK spokesperson said: “The amount of waste sent to landfill, or energy recovery, was reduced by 3 per cent last year, representing around 900 tonnes. Residents recycled and composted 1,200 tonnes more than the year before.

“Not only is this better for the environment, it has also meant avoiding costs of around £200,000 in total.”

However, food wastage still seems to remain high, as a study of Kingston’s waste bins has shown that more than half of the contents, primarily consisting of food, could be used for recycling.

Food wastage is collected every week in Kingston and is converted into compost and electricity.

The council have encouraged recycling in the borough by installing a drinking water fountain located by The Apple Market to reduce plastic usage.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also has plans to install five additional fountains across the borough.

In the last year, regular bins have be redesigned to foot pedal bins, giving residents of the local borough a more hygienic way to throw away their rubbish.

This is to encourage residents to keep the streets of Kingston clean and discourage littering.