You told us, we listened, we're still listening
Your priorties are our priorities - and we would still like to hear your views - to help us to improve services for all.
In 2005-06, as part of the Greener Croydon initiative, we asked you what would help Croydon become a greener borough. Nearly 3000 people responded to this survey and they were clear that they wanted to see an expanded recycling collection service and more facilities to recycle. Over 60% also said a wider range of materials should be collected.
In the last two years the level of kerbside recycling and composting services has been increased to reflect what you have told us you would like to see. From July 2008 all 122,000 houses in Croydon now receive a kerbside collection service for cans, paper, glass bottles and jars, cardboard and plastic bottles. There is also a seasonal green waste kerbside collection.
We have also improved our three Recycling and Reuse centres to recycle a wider range of materials and we have supported the Appliance Reuse Centre to collect and recondition electrical goods.
As a result the whole community is now helping to reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill. The proportion of household waste recycled instead of being sent to landfill has doubled from 13% in 2004-05 to 26% in June 2008.
Our ambitious target is to increase this figure to 40% by 2011 and we know that there is more to do to make sure our recycling services reach everybody. Already some blocks of flats have had recycling facilities installed but we are increasing the number available so that by March 2009 there will be 1500 estate recycling facilities for people living in flats.
We have also introduced a trial scheme to over 2500 households to collect food scraps, peelings and leftovers. Initial results have been encouraging and we will be looking to see how we can extend this service to rest of the borough.
We are also working with local businesses to help them become greener through the ENVIBE programme (see associated link). ENVIBE provides impartial advice and services to businesses and gives awards to those who improve.
