RECYCLING in Brent will need a “radical” overhaul to compete with European countries, the new Labour administration has said.

The borough's recycling rate is just below 30 per cent, well below levels in the greener parts of the continent, even in major cities.

Councillor Ann John, leader of Brent Council, said a 40 per cent target would not be unachievable but warned certain areas of Brent are hard to reach for collection.

She said it was unlikely her administration would be able to catch up with the greenest parts of London, like Sutton which was already at 40 per cent last year.

She said: “It will require some quite radical changes to improve it to get the percentage up to 40 per cent.

“We are nowhere near that at the moment. Some councils are doing a lot better than us, some a lot worse, but if you look across at Europe some countries are doing a lot better.

“We do have to make a bit more of an effort.”

Cllr John said she would not be in favour of a “pay as you throw” scheme, which leaves householders footing a bill for non-recycled rubbish, but warned the tactic might be imposed by the Government.

She said poorer areas tend to have lower recycling rates because schemes are more difficult to run on council estates, and residents in houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) are less likely to take part.