Diverse community encouraged to recycle more

Diigo

 An event is to take place to look at how to encourage more Londoners from ethnic minorities to recycle.
Community leaders and waste officers from nearly half of London's boroughs will explore how ethnic food, language and access can influence recycling.

While it is not proven minorities are less likely to recycle, there is anecdotal evidence that the take-up is more patchy, environmentalists say.

The conference is being held at Lambeth Town Hall in south London.

'Colossal waste crisis'

It aims to share ideas and local schemes on involving more minority residents and to unite community groups.

Lambeth councillor Clare Whelan said: "Maximum involvement of diverse communities - small and large - is vital to a serious and sustained London wide effort to address the city's colossal waste crisis."

Jagdeesh Singh, of environmental charity London 21, said there is no comprehensive evidence that black, Asian and ethnic communities are less involved but anecdotally it appears that participation is patchy.

Londoners produce four million tons of rubbish each year, three-quarters of which is dumped in landfill sites.

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