Barnet’s household recycling rate has dropped below 30% after falling for the third successive year.

The proportion of household waste sent for recycling, reuse or composting was 28.9% in Barnet during 2020/21, according to figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

In 2018, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan set a target for 45% of all household waste to be recycled by 2025. But after dropping from 34.6% in 2018/19 to 32% in 2019/20, Barnet’s rate is now below the London average of 33.4%.

Alan Schneiderman, the opposition Labour group’s environment spokesperson, described the downward trend as “shocking” and claimed the council’s decision to scrap separate food waste collections in 2018 was partly to blame.

He said: “The recycling rate in Barnet has been low for far too long, and it is shocking that it’s now going in the wrong direction.

“What has contributed to that is the decision to stop separate food waste collections, and also not making any progress on improving the recycling rates in flats and ensuring more flats have recycling facilities.

“What we need is proper engagement – not just with [council housing arm] Barnet Homes, but also with private landlords to get recycling facilities introduced, and making sure that is a condition on all developments.”

A spokesperson for Barnet Council said the latest drop in the recycling rate was “disappointing” but followed the national trend, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic had “adversely affected” the figures as households who were locked down or working from home generated more waste.

They added that commercial waste was “significantly reduced” and claimed the impact of the decision to scrap separate food waste collections was “immaterial”.

The spokesperson said a recycling trial on Grahame Park Estate in Colindale, which improved recycling facilities and provided better information for residents, had been “positive”, leading to “improved participation and reduced levels of contamination in the bins”.

They continued: “Regulations under the recently passed Environment Act will be published shortly. Once published, the council will consider its recycling strategy, as will all councils, in the context of those regulations, and the best way to roll the Grahame Park initiative forward across the borough.

“The role of new development in improving recycling rates is also recognised as increasingly important. Consequently, the council communicates with developers, managing agents and landlords and provides recycling information and details of the waste disposal options available.

“Developers and architects are provided with guidance as part of the planning process to ensure there is enough provision for both recycling and refuse bins, in relation to the number of properties planned for developments.”