The Council say "Waste compositional analysis is a representative sample (across Lewisham using an agreed methodology), of refuse and recycling bins. Households are informed and that the waste and recycling will be anonymous. The collected bins are then sorted out into the separate waste streams, which gives us an idea of the types of waste and recycling that households dispose of and which bins that they are disposing those items in."

It would be useful to know more about that:

How exactly is the compositional analysis carried out? What criteria is used? Is the work carried out by central government, an agency, or by individual boroughs/counties? If each borough does its own analysis how can we be sure that all boroughs use exactly the same methods? What is the agreed methodology? For what period is the research carried out, and is the analysis done for the same calendar weeks/months for every location? (could be important as some waste is seasonal). How is Lewisham's incinerated waste counted in the analysis?

Follow the link in my post up thread (10) for methodology used in comparative analysis by borough:
http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php...7#pid74387

The council may well have another method.

I've just moved from Southwark where this system has been used successfully for years, but it does rely on everyone diligently sorting their rubbish. There was a period of transition when green (general waste) overflowed as some households did their bit. But the council along with Veolia proactively engaged with people and encouraged them to be more conscious of their waste.

Personally I prefer it to Lewisham's solution. And I was aghast there was no food waste collection. It pains me to have been putting this in with general waste.

lacb

Councillors do read SE23.com so it is disappointing that we have to speculate rather than having one of them state what is the case.