To store all this extra recycling, residents will need:

• 1 wheelie bin for landfill waste (collected fortnightly)
• 1 wheelie bin for card and paper (collected fortnightly)
• up to 5 green boxes for glass, plastics and cans (collected fortnightly)
• 1 food waste caddy (collected weekly)
• batteries and textiles will no longer by collected from your home –  you will need to take them elsewhere for recycling

I know people who struggle to find space at their properties for the existing boxes, especially if they have to use their front gardens.  How they are expected house all these extra bins and boxes is beyond me. The aim should be to make recycling the easiest option. Under this new scheme some residents may be tempted to put recyclables into their landfill waste bin, rather than find space for 2 weeks worth of recyclables.

says St Marks Ward Councillor, Diane White

At the Infrastructure, Projects and Contracts committee meeting last week, the Conservative chair produced a motion on the night to move to this “twin streaming” recycling of alternating week collections, with batteries and textiles will no longer be collected at all.  There are no plans to consult residents for their views.

Liberal Democrat Councillors moved an amendment, asking that Kingston Council keep weekly collections of all recycling materials. The Tory and Labour Councillors voted against it! Currently Kingston is 4th highest borough in London for recycling – this could all be lost if this new system comes in next year.

The recommendation to change to fortnightly recycling collections will now be passed to the Policy and Finance committee on 4th December, so there is still time for the ruling Tory administration to do a U-turn and keep our recycling weekly.

If you want to keep all recycling weekly please sign our petition