Actions not recycled words are now needed in managing London's waste - Tuffrey

5.04.00pm GMT Mon 18th Jan 2010

Mike Tuffrey, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and the party's environment spokesperson, commenting on the Mayor's Draft Municipal Waste Management Strategy, which has been published today said:

"The Mayor's Draft Waste Strategy sets out some interesting ideas, but what really matters is that practical steps are now actually taken.

"One immediate test of this strategy will come within days when we finally see the details of the contract the Mayor has signed for the free morning newspaper that is distributed across the whole of London's transport network. "

"Each and every day well in excess of a million free newspapers are handed out to Londoners which too often end up as litter at stations and on London's streets, before finally ending up as landfill. At present almost nothing is done by Transport for London to help people recycle these newspapers, or indeed the many other materials that people dispose of when travelling around London. If the Mayor really is serious about improving London's recycling record he must ensure that it is as easy to recycle a free newspaper as it is to pick one up."

ENDS

Notes to editors.

Mike Tuffrey's most recent question to the Mayor about the Transport for London's contract over the distribution of a free morning newspaper at London Underground and other Transport for London locations is enclosed.

New Free Morning Newspaper Contract

[Main question]

Question number 3273/2009

Meeting date 18/11/2009

Question by Mike Tuffrey

Further to MQ1572/2009 are you still expecting this contract to be awarded in December 2009 and how will you encourage the new concession holder to increase recycling rates?

Answer by Boris Johnson

London Underground is likely to award this contract in January 2010 and it will start in April 2010, when the existing contract expires.

It is planned that the contract will include requirements to improve environmental performance across the Underground, including recycling. Contract negotiations are currently at a commercially confidential stage