Despite common perceptions, high-density housing is not an insurmountable barrier to Londoners recycling more of their waste, a new report from the London Assembly says today.

Waste not, want not by the Assembly’s Environment Committee says that, while high-density housing does affect recycling performance, it does not necessarily prevent a borough from being able to recycle more waste.

The presence of lots of flats and estates is a specific challenge to improving recycling performance, typically because of a lack of space for storage and difficulty transporting materials to collection points.

However, the report notes for example that in Tower Hamlets, where 84 per cent of properties are flats, 20 per cent of waste is recycled or composted - double the average for flats and estates in London.

Although the capital has improved recycling performance in recent years, most boroughs fail to meet the average rates achieved across the UK. Recycling rates also vary widely across London with some boroughs achieving rates of more than 40 per cent while others do not meet a 2007 target of 20 per cent.

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The investigation also found that the effects of another factor cited as a reason for poor recycling performance – deprivation levels – may have been overstated.

Although income levels are important, they are not the overriding factor in determining recycling levels. Some London boroughs with high levels of deprivation recycle more waste than might be expected, while other more affluent areas achieve lower-than-anticipated recycling rates.

Gareth Bacon, AM, who led the special investigation on behalf of the Environment Committee, said: "London needs to recycle more of its rubbish to reduce the economic and environmental costs of sending so much waste to landfill. Millions of pounds could be saved every year if we recycled more.

"Certain areas of the capital do face specific challenges, such as having lots of flats, however this should not be seen as an excuse for failing to recycle more. Deprivation is not an insurmountable barrier either.

"If the savings that could be made are publicised, I think Londoners will pitch in and recycle even more. I urge the Mayor and boroughs to build on work already done and better communicate the enormous benefits of recycling."

The report concludes that political leadership is crucial to improving recycling rates and says residents of all types of properties can be motivated to do more if they are told about the financial savings recycling can bring.

It recommends boroughs publish data about the value of recycling annually and urges the Mayor to promote schemes that reward communities for increasing recycling.

(CD/BMcC)