Hard-hitting campaign is unveiled as London's rubbish problem gets critical
7 April 2006
Residents in Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will receive an urgent reminder to start recycling when a new campaign kicks off next week which asks "Just when will you start recycling?"
Over the next ten weeks Recycle Western Riverside (RWR) will urge the one in four people who still don't recycle any of their rubbish, to start making small changes at home that will help make a real difference to the mountains of waste London produces.
Sam Jarvis, Campaign Manager, says: "It is of real concern that one of London's major landfill sites is due to close by the end of next year. In the 30 minutes it takes for the London Eye to go round just once, Londoners produce rubbish weighing as much as a staggering 30 double-decker buses. With fewer places left for this rubbish to be buried, it is now more important than ever that we all recycle. This campaign is a powerful call for everyone to do their bit."
He continued, "People may not be aware that by recycling they are also saving energy and taking action to help stop climate change. Recycling just one plastic bottle can save enough energy to light a 50 watt bulb for up to 12 hours."
Posters will be displayed in high streets, supermarkets and tube and railway stations and will show famous London landmarks submerged in rubbish. Telephone boxes will also appear to be full of household waste. The RWR team will be out on the streets over the coming weeks to give out information on how to recycle in the four Western Riverside boroughs.
Sixteen households will also receive an environmental makeover in the campaign's 'What Not to Waste' challenge. Over six weeks the households will be given a challenge every fortnight to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as they can. School children will also do their bit for the campaign as they quiz their parents on their recycling habits in a bid to win a prize for their school.
Sam Jarvis added, "Residents in Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea have more than doubled the amount they recycle in the last three years. This is fantastic progress but we all need to do more."