Camden Council hopes to cut spending on street cleaning by getting residents to volunteer as litter pickers.

The council is planning to save £3million from its waste collection and recycling budget over the next three years by negotiating a new waste management contract in 2017 when the current contract with Veolia expires.

There are also plans to cut a further £2m from street cleaning and waste management should it be required.

Cllr Sally Gimson, cabinet member for sustainability and environment, told the cabinet earlier this month: “It will be essential that cuts of 15 to 20 per cent do not mean that residents see a service which is 15 to 20 per cent worse.

“It will be for us an opportunity to re-design the whole service. We will be looking at making these savings in part by maximising food recycling and dry recycling.

“We will also need more help from local people keeping our streets clean. I already know local residents who go around with litter pickers.”