London's recycling rates 'rubbish', says assembly report

LONDON - Cities like Milan are putting London's recycling rates to shame, a hard-hitting report by the London Assembly Environment Committee said Wednesday.

The report -- Wasting London's Future -- described recycling levels in the British capital as rubbish, saying rates for recycling household waste are below the national average.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to increase London's recycling rates from 33 percent to 42 percent, and to stop sending any biodegradable or recyclable waste to landfill by 2030.

But the report said opportunities to reduce waste in London by recovering and re-using valuable materials are being missed, with recycling rates barely increased over the past five years.

"Londoners want to recycle and authorities should make it easy for them," says the report, adding some apartment homes have no home recycling facilities whatsoever.

It says although London burns over half its waste for energy it wastes valuable resources, generates carbon dioxide emissions and contributes to air pollution.

The committee has called for improvements in London's waste management, saying the mayor should step in if targets in individual London boroughs are not met.

Assembly member Leonie Cooper who chairs the Environment Committee, said: "London has a waste management problem. But with increased public awareness on waste and recycling, the Mayor now needs to drive forward to make sure London does not remain a city of wasted opportunities.

"Instead of recycling, sending so much waste to landfill or burning it to create energy, our waste can be managed better, and not even be seen as waste at all," Cooper said.