"Start recycling now" is the message that will be delivered to 50,000 Ealing households as Ealing Council's door-knocking scheme returns for another year.

 

From April 13, a team of recycling experts from Waste Watch will visit homes across the borough and ask residents to sign up to the green box scheme which already provides 95,000 Ealing households with a weekly collection of recyclable waste.

 

Last summer the doorknockers signed up nearly 8,000 additional households and it is hoped that this year's campaign will be just as successful.   The scheme, which has been funded by the London Recycling Fund, is not only designed to attract new recyclers, but provides information to all residents about how to minimise waste and recycle effectively.

 

Earl McKenzie, Head of Waste and Recycling, said:

 

"Like all local authorities Ealing has tough recycling targets to meet and our green box doorstep recycling service is key to increasing our recycling rates.   Last year's campaign was a great success and the reaction of residents was superb.   Thanks to this project, other council initiatives and the support of residents, Ealing's recycling rate has risen from 12% to nearly 16% in the last year.

 

"People clearly want to be recycling and we are making it as easy as possible by delivering green boxes direct to residents, and then picking up their recyclables from their door.

 

"I hope all residents who are eligible for a green box will come on board and help Ealing to be a truly green borough."

 

This summer's door-knocking will be concentrated in areas which weren't visited last summer, but there will also be second visits to areas of low participation.

 

March 14th, 2005