Brent Council has admitted that its recycling performance "is not good enough and must improve", prompting an evidence-led review of the blue sack scheme for paper and card collection. The scheme, rolled out in October 2023, requires residents with blue-lidded bins to separate paper and card into 90-litre blue sacks, but it has faced widespread criticism.
Unpopular scheme prompts petition
The blue sack system, intended to improve recycling quality, has proved unpopular among residents. A petition with 3,500 signatures urged the council to scrap it, citing poor quality and insufficient capacity. The opposition Liberal Democrats accused the Labour-run administration of "wasting three years" and claimed the scheme has led some residents to stop recycling altogether.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Lorber said: "There are loads of people who tell me that, because of the blue bags and because of the nuisance of having to deal with [them], 'I have stopped recycling'."
Council acknowledges failures
At a Full Council meeting on July 6, Liberal Democrat Councillor Krishna Chauhan tabled a motion calling for an end to the "blanket reliance" on blue sacks and a return to wheelie bins where sacks cause problems. The motion noted that Brent's household recycling rate is around 30%, which Chauhan described as "much lower" than desired, and called for a "simpler, more convenient" scheme.
Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm, Cllr Promise Knight, acknowledged that the recycling rate is "not anywhere any of us would like it to be" but said the council is "determined to improve it". Knight added: "We all want to see Brent recycle more, we all want to reduce waste, and we all want to make it easier for residents to do the right thing."
Benefits and challenges of blue sacks
Despite the criticism, Knight noted that the blue sacks have delivered cost benefits, including improved material quality, low contamination of paper and card, and additional income for frontline services. However, the council accepted that "one model will not work everywhere" due to the variety of housing in the borough.
Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson highlighted that flats may lack space for extra bins, while blue sacks are lighter for disabled residents. She said: "I actually quite like the blue sack. It's not heavy to manoeuvre, so if you're someone with a disability I think that's a plus."
Evidence-led review to find solutions
The council has agreed to undertake an evidence-led review of the recycling system, exploring alternatives such as reintroducing wheelie bins while maintaining blue sacks where they remain the best option. The review aims to address issues of litter, participation, and recycling rates, with a focus on making the process easier for residents.
