General waste collection in Greenwich could be reduced from weekly to fortnightly pick-ups, in a bid to cut down on rubbish and boost recycling rates.

Residents will be asked their opinion on how best to reduce waste in the borough, as part of the council’s Toward Zero Waste policy, in a consultation set to launch in the New Year.

Discussing the move at November’s meeting of cabinet, member for the public realm, Cllr David Gardner, said it was “imperative” the council meet the London target of 50 per cent of waste being recycled by 2025.

“All we are doing here is starting a consultation,” he said.

“But it is absolutely imperative, even more so in a climate emergency, that we meet that London target of 50 per cent.”

He was backed by council leader Danny Thorpe, who said the consultation would let residents have their say on waste issues in the borough.

“There’s a certain percentage of the population that thinks we’re talking rubbish most of the time, but this is a very good opportunity to engage with the wider community,” he said.

He added that as the “only member of the cabinet that resides in a flat…we have got to have a real strategy with how we deal with waste in the borough”.

A report presented to councillors noted that of the 1,000 to 3,000 new residences being built in the borough each year, the majority are flats, which traditionally present challenges with the collection of “good quality” recycling.

The report added that 67 of the UK’s 391 local authorities collect general waste weekly, placing Greenwich in the minority which still performs weekly pick-ups.

“When general waste is restricted, people generally become more aware of the waste they are generating and have to make a conscious choice of whether items are recyclable, in order to maintain enough space in their general waste bin until the next collection,” the report states.