When councillors voted last week to halve collections of most recyclables, opposition politicians and residents claimed the move would see cascades of waste filling Kingston’s streets.

Even a survey that cost £24,000 commissioned by Kingston Conservatives ahe-ad of the vote found “overall, respondents were generally unsupportive” – though it concluded there was “by no means an overwhelming rejection” of the plans.

But how hard can it be?

Simon Jakeman, who stood as a Green candidate in last May’s council elections, said: “Everything seems to come in plastic containers.

“My concern was, about the change, that people aren’t going to be bothered.”

The father-of-three grows his own veg and fills just one black bin bag a week.

Surrey Comet:

Surbiton firefighter and environmental activist Simon Jakeman grows his own veg and fills just one black bag of rubbish a week

But he said not everyone has to take such radical steps to cut down.

He added: “I’m not a total expert – we try to keep it down as much as possible.

“I pre-sort [recycling] to make it neater and give us a bit more space.

“It is just being aware of what kinds of waste you’re generating.

"I’m not out there sorting my recycling every evening.

“We’re going to have this new regime next year – let’s get a bit smart about it.”

Kingston’s recycling rate – 46 percent – puts the borough top in south-west London and is one of the highest in the capital.

 

Recycling rates across south-west London

                   2011/12    2012/13    2013/14
    
Area (%)         
London            34                34                 34
Kingston          47                46                 46
Richmond        45                46                 43
Croydon           38                44                 42
Merton             37                39                 39
Sutton              37                37                 37
Wandsworth    28                23                 20

 

The council’s new alternate-week collections, which will begin next January, are similar to those operated in Croydon.

But Croydon environment councillor Stuart Collins said that may change.

He said: “Our criticisms of the system where you do it one week one thing, and one week another, is some residents just don’t get it.

“It takes a bit more effort.”

Though recycling boxes do not overflow with waste, the council is considering introducing a single green wheelie bin to “take away the excuses” for not recycling, he said.

The single-bin system reigns in neighbouring Sutton. However, the recycling rate there is just 37 percent.

Green campaigners at Transition Town Kingston offer some top tips to avoid an overflowing recycling bin. For more information, visit ttkingston.org

  • Buy less stuff, and buy stuff that lasts (it might cost a bit more initially, but be better value in the long run)
  • Take your own bag when you go shopping
  • Buy from shops and markets that don't use unnecessary packaging – buy loose produce when you can
  • Grow some of your own food 
  • Drink tap water 
  • Buy milk from a milkman in returnable glass bottles
  • Repair and reuse whatever and whenever you can
  • Give away unwanted items via charity shops or organisations such as Freegle and Freecycle
  • Take some of the things that can’t go in your bin or recycling box to the rubbish tip, where many more categories of waste (eg wood, electronics) are sorted for recycling.
  • Join The Rubbish Diet therubbishdiet.org.uk for lots more tips.