More than a quarter of Barnet residents say the ugliest part of their home is where they keep their bin, a survey has revealed.

A survey from Recycle for London, who are launching a new campaign into recycling, interviewed 2,000 London residents and showed that more than half of those from Barnet said they experience "bin-digestion", where they have to pile up recycling items around their bin because of limited space.

More than 22 per cent said they would be embarrassed for others to see the mess around their bin.

More than 39 per cent of Barnet residents agreed they would recycle more if they had more than one bin at home, while 48 per cent still recycle despite not having a recycling bin of their own.

Recycle for London has launched the campaign, One bin is rubbish, to give Londoners "bin hacks" so they can improve the way they recycle.

Antony Buchan, from the Recycle for London campaign, said: “Managing recycling at home is something we have to do every day, so it’s not surprising that the majority of London residents regularly suffer from ‘bin-digestion’ and the clutter and mess that comes with it. But the good news is there are simple things that can be done to help get to grips with this."

Some of the hacks include keeping a basket by the front door as a holding area for papers/magazines waiting to be moved to an outside recycling bin; using "bags for life" to store bottles for recycling; re-using cardboard wine carriers to store class bottles neatly for recycling; and asking children to decorate recycling boxes to make them look nicer, and encourage them to be used.

For more bin-hacks and advice on household recycling in London visit: www.recycleforlondon.com/onebinisrubbish