Havering Borough Council Set to Withdraw from Recycling Scheme

Havering Borough Council Set to
Withdraw from Recycling Scheme

Havering borough council is preparing to withdraw from the London Green Points Recycling Scheme so they’ve urged residents to redeem any rewards they’ve accrued for reducing their waste before October. The council say that they can’t meet the costs of running the campaign any longer.

The Green Points Scheme was introduced to encourage people to recycle more and reduce their waste so waste management costs could be driven down. Points accrued could be exchanged for items in the Green Rewards shop, M&S vouchers, or alternatively, they could be donated to one of nine local charities or a schools’ fund. Residents who took part in the scheme also got a discount card where they could get offers and discounts at over 100 local businesses.

The scheme launched back in 2014, and the company behind it, Local Green Points, said it had helped make the borough greener as well as rewarding people for their recycling efforts.

Over 25,000 residents in Havering are members of the scheme, and over £17,500 has been donated to 11 local charities.

A spokesperson for the council said that the scheme was funded to the tune of just over £1 million by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for 5 years, and that the 5 years would be coming to an end in October. They added that there has been no more funding made available to keep the scheme going and there are no plans to introduce a scheme to replace it.

The council member for the environment said that they are delighted with the results of the scheme, especially the impact on the local environment and local charities. He thanked local people for taking part and making a difference.

The managing director of Local Green Points commented that it was a pleasure to work with the council to motivate residents to recycle more. He added that he is looking forward to seeing the final results of the scheme in October.

The scheme in Havering was the fifth to be set up by Local Green Points in the UK. The first scheme organised by Local Green Points was launched in the London borough of Bexley for residents living in flats back in October 2011. This scheme was funded by the London Waste and Recycling Board. Local Green Points continues to run recycling schemes with eight London Boroughs and five resident engagement schemes.