London freesheets could be banned within weeks

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 17-Apr-07, 15:35

LONDON - The London Lite and thelondonpaper could be banned from Central London within weeks unless they strike a deal with Westminster City Council to help recycle the three to four tonnes of paper discarded each day.

The council has been negotiating with the two titles' publishers, Associated Newspapers and News International, since January. It is demanding a satisfactory contribution to the £500,000 recycling bill that the council has planned.

As yet, no agreement has been made. A meeting will be called in as little as two weeks for the publishers to present appropriate offers; if these are deemed not sizeable enough, the council will curtail the distribution efforts of the two publishers and their army of distributors.

Councillor Alan Bradley, cabinet member for street environment at Westminster Council, said: "We are very disappointed that after nearly four months we're still not anywhere close to a deal with the publishers of these free newspapers which are creating such a waste issue in the West End.

"We're doing all we can to address the problems but it is simply not fair on our residents and businesses to foot the bill for what is a problem of two newspapers' making. I'm sure most of their readers would be just as anxious as us to ensure that this mountain of waste paper is properly recycled."

News International said it has pledged a financial contribution.

A spokesperson for thelondonpaper, said: "Following meetings with Westminster Council, we have already pledged financial support for new recycling bins and facilities in the borough.

"We take environmental issues very seriously and we are working towards a resolution with the council. We are due to meet them shortly."

Local authorities have the power under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to restrict the distribution of free literature in areas where they pollute the environment. No other council in London has threatened to use this law to date.

Associated's London Lite distributes more than 400,000 copies across the city each day and News International's thelondonpaper distributes around 500,000.

The council increased the number of newspaper recycling bins to 131 following the launch of the free evening newspapers last August. However, it said it needs to introduce an extra 300 bins and extra lorries, with crews to regularly empty them, which would cost around £500,000.

The London Lite and thelondonpaper were not available for comment.