Last month, The Laundry's kerbside paper and card recycling service, which collects from small businesses in central London, received a special commendation from the National Recycling Awards.

Communications officer Jennie Organ said The Laundry wants to talk to councils and paper collectors around the country who could benefit from a similar scheme being set up in their area.

Most paper recyclers have a minimum collection of up to six to eight sacks of paper, far too much for a small business to generate or store, which means it's often thrown away.

The Laundry kerbside recycling service offers an alternative, as it has no minimum collection rate.

Started by environmental group BioRegional in May 2003, The Laundry has expanded over the past year and a half to now cover a large part of central London.

The project currently operates in Westminster, Camden, Islington, City of London and Tower Hamlets, and has so far recruited 350 small businesses since its start-up.

Story by Andy Scott