Islington Council's Youth Council is actively participating in local decision-making, with a recent meeting highlighting their concerns and ideas for improving the borough's recycling rates. During the meeting on 4 December 2025, a youth representative questioned Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport, about the council's efforts to encourage recycling among all Islington residents.

The youth councillor's inquiry focused on the specific steps the council is taking to promote recycling and whether the council itself is setting a good example through its own practices. Councillor Champion responded by outlining several initiatives aimed at boosting recycling rates across the borough.

Champion stated that Islington is performing well for an inner London borough, with a recycling rate of 35.7%. To address the remaining 64.3% of waste, the council is focusing on making recycling easier and more appealing, particularly for residents in estates. She also mentioned that the vast majority of properties have access to dry recycling and food waste recycling services. The council is actively working to extend these services to flats above shops.

Islington Council Committee Structure
Islington Council Committee Structure

Councillor Champion highlighted the council's work with schools through a dedicated recycling education officer, stating, It's one thing we really wanted to do, and we were able to bring a new post a couple of years ago, because it's so important to work with schools, and actually students and peoples as well. She also noted the importance of community engagement through local groups and housing associations, and the success of the council's events programme, which recently won the Best Circular Economy Award, where local people are engaging with others in the community to mend clothes and other items.

Champion welcomed further ideas from the youth councillor and their peers on how to further improve recycling rates. The exchange took place during a wider Islington Council meeting on 4 December 2025, where various topics were discussed, including council tax support, gambling regulations1, and constitutional updates2.

The youth council's participation underscores the importance of engaging young people in local decision-making processes.

  1. The council also discussed gambling regulations, including a review of the Statement of Principles 2026-2028 Gambling Act 2005. Appendix 1 Draft Statment of Principles 2026-2028 Gambling Act 2005 ↩

  2. A review and update of the constitution was also on the agenda. Review and Update of the Constitution ↩