Youngsters say recycling is easier than people think

The poll of 11 to 18-year-olds revealed 51% of their households in the city always recycle.

But the study also shows 74% still think their parents or carers should recycle even more of their rubbish.

The survey, carried out for the Recycle for London campaign, found youngsters thought mothers (69%) did most of the recycling compared with 23% of fathers.

When asked what they would say to other families in London to encourage them to recycle, more than half the young people said they would explain that it was easier than people think.

These findings give us hope for the future but show that we have a lot more to do right now London mayor Ken Livingstone

Six out of ten would urge their neighbours to recycle more by making them aware that recycled rubbish can be used to make new products.

Sorrel de Paula Hanika, nine, a pupil at Ridgeway Primary School, Croydon in south London, said: "My mum and dad are quite good about splitting things out to be recycled like paper, cans and bottles.

"But then they keep forgetting to put it out for collection and it's really easy, all we have to do is put it outside the house and it gets picked up."

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: "These findings give us hope for the future but show that we have a lot more to do right now.

"Residents in every London borough can recycle all sorts of materials such as glass, paper and cans including glass sauce jars, pet food tins and junk mail, households can recycle more than they think."