Westminster unveils London's first converted recycling chute

Westminster City Council unveils the first converted recycling chute in London on a high rise estate which has more than doubled recycling during a trial period.

The chute, believed to be the first of its kind in the capital, was converted from transporting refuse to recyclable waste in the Hallfield Estate, Paddington in a pioneering project aimed at making recycling easier for people who live in flats.

More than 85 per cent of all residents in Westminster live in flats and like many parts of the capital, encouraging recycling on such estates is a challenge for local authorities.

After seeing recycling rates triple on the estate from around one to three tonnes, the council has confirmed the chutes will remain a permanent fixture and will look at how the method can be introduced to other estates across the city.

The recycling team came up with this perfect solution after it was found that those living in high-rise apartments and flats are less inclined to recycle.

Cllr Alan Bradley, Cabinet Member for Street Environment at Westminster City Council, said: "A typical family in Westminster produces half a tonne of waste a year, and half of that is recyclable, so to make a difference it became apparent that we would have to find a way to make it easier for people in flats to recycle.”

Last year residents across Westminster generated 80,000 tonnes of household waste, 18% of which was recycled. However, rates are on the rise and so far this year 20% of waste has been recycled.

Siobhan McAuliffe, Village Manager on the Hallfield Estate said residents got right behind the chutes, which were converted in November. "I think it's a great idea and one I fully supported from the start.

“It doesn't surprise me that the amount of rubbish now being recycled has gone up so much. It was clear that residents across the estate were keen to recycle, but previous methods were always inconvenient. Now recycling fits into their daily routine."

Other methods the council is introducing to encourage residents in flats to recycle include a door-to-door collection service.

This service is being rolled out across 1,600 properties on Churchill Gardens.

More than 600 residents on the estate are now receiving weekly collections, and the council plans to extend the service to another 465 flats on the estate next month.