30,000 council anti-waste leaflets binned

A council sent out 33,000 questionnaires as part of a drive against waste and got back just 3,100 — meaning 29,900 leaflets were discarded.

Lambeth even gave away a laptop as a prize to encourage people to fill in the form, which asked them how the authority could improve the borough's recycling rates.

Green Party councillor Rebecca Thackray said: "There are good ways to consult with residents about recycling, but handing out leaflets in this way is one of the least effective."

The party's London Assembly member Darren Johnson added: "By far the best way to consult people is to go door-to-door."

The surveys asked residents' views on potential initiatives such as providing smaller wheelie bins and schemes to pass on unwanted furniture.

Recipients were also asked what might make them recycle more of their household rubbish. At present 26 per cent of Lambeth's waste is recycled, about average for London but well below the UK average of 34 per cent.

A council spokesman said: "It's impossible to properly consult residents on important issues without using paper. By only consulting via the website we would have excluded many residents, particularly older people.

"There are some occasions where paper is necessary — and we, of course, used recycled paper."