POPULAR packaging which has previously not been collected by council recycling teams will be taken away from today.

Cartons, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, plastic food trays and carrier bags can now be put into normal household recycling.

Cartons can be recycled into a variety of products, including envelopes, plasterboard liner, paper carrier bags, broom handles, roof tiles and even garden furniture.

Councillor Terry Neville, cabinet member for the environment, said: “As far as we are aware, Enfield residents will be the only Londoners who will be able to recycle drink cartons and plastic carrier bags from their door step.

“It’s all part of Enfield’s waste and recycling revolution. In June we decided to change refuse collection dates to make Enfield’s streets cleaner and widening the scope of what you can recycle is all part of the same story.

“In Enfield we are committed to delivering a first rate, customer friendly, flexible weekly waste service with no bin taxes and fines.”

Richard Hands, environment manager at packaging firm Tetra Pak Ltd and chairman of trade group, The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment UK, said that cartons had been recycled in large volumes for several years in Europe but the UK has lagged behind.

“It's fantastic news that Enfield Council is taking a lead by adding cartons to the list of materials collected for recycling and we very much hope that the initiative is successful.”