Bringing back separate food waste collections could boost Barnet’s recycling rate by 4% as it strives to meet London waste-reduction targets.

That is according to a draft recycling plan drawn up by Barnet Council and submitted to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to demonstrate how it will work towards City Hall’s waste management objectives.

The council scrapped separate food waste collections in 2018, claiming the move would save £300,000 a year. The Labour group, which now controls the council, pledged in its local election manifesto to bring them back.

In February this year, government figures revealed the borough’s recycling rate had dropped below 30% after falling for the third successive year. The rate was below the London average of 33.4%.

According to the council’s draft recycling plan, the Covid-19 pandemic had a “negative effect” on Barnet’s recycling rates, with more waste being created and a lower proportion being recycled, composted or reused. The council aims to increase recycling rates in flats, which are expected to make up around 90% of the 44,000 new homes built in Barnet by 2036.

City Hall set targets in 2018 for councils to work towards a 45% household waste recycling rate by 2025. Barnet’s projected rate for 2024/25 is expected to be just 30% – although this is set to increase to 34% with the return of food waste collections.

The plan does not put a timeline on the reintroduction of food waste rounds, as the council is currently waiting for the government to update environmental legislation.

Other actions set out in the plan to boost recycling include encouraging composting, providing better information on where residents can recycle, and educating people on reducing consumption.

The town hall will consider reintroducing free public water fountains in parks to help reduce plastic bottle waste. The council aims to stop using single-use plastics altogether and to encourage residents and businesses to do the same.

During a meeting of the environment and climate change committee on Tuesday, councillors agreed unanimously to submit the draft Reduction and Recycling Plan, which will cover the period from April 2023 to March 2025, to the GLA. City Hall is expected to provide feedback which will inform the final version of the plan.