London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson yesterday pledged to pay Londoners to recycle when he launched his environmental manifesto for the city, Protecting our Local Environment.
Johnson, the Conservative MP for Henley, said he had drawn inspiration from US-based company RecycleBank, which works with local governments to reward people according to the amount of recycling they carry out. Participants are paid with vouchers that can be spent in local shops. He claimed that the initiatives have succeeded in boosting per-household recycling rates by more than 200 per cent.
Johnson said that Tory-run councils, including Westminster, Maidenhead and Windsor will begin talks with RecycleBank with a view to implementing a similar scheme in the UK. If the pilots prove successful the scheme would be promoted to other boroughs in the capital.
The Conservative mayoral candidate was joined by shadow environment minister Peter Ainsworth and Conservative green enthusiast Zac Goldsmith at yesterday’s manifesto launch on Hampstead Heath.
"Increasing recycling may appear to be a small gesture but it will actually improve the lives of thousands of Londoners. I want to work with London boroughs to make that a reality," said Johnson.
New London mayor expected to make good on manifesto pledge to scrap £25-a-day congestion charge for most polluting vehicles 05 May 2008
New Mayor unveils tree planting scheme as office confirms higher congestion charge for gas guzzlers will be axed 13 May 2008
Lobby group claims Tories entering "critical few months" for green credentials 14 May 2008
Suppliers feared extending congestion charge exemption to low-emission vehicles would reverse rising demand for electric cars 15 Jul 2008
China-based Suntech Holdings thinks demand will still exceed supply 10 Oct 2008
Orders for its wind turbines were up 50 per cent year on year, the company claims 10 Oct 2008
The company's Tower Tube design has been updated with wind energy technology 10 Oct 2008
More news
The entire US financial system may be on the ropes, but according to Richard Seireeni, the recently formed "Salmon Nation" financial network is doing just fine 09 Oct 2008
BusinessGreen.com casts its eye over the simplest means of harnessing some geothermal power 08 Oct 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
