Waste report makes suggestions to the London mayor

The London Meeting Surroundings Committee has printed a report on waste administration within the capital and the necessity to transfer to a round financial system. Advance publicity for ‘Too Good to Waste’ (launched on 16 March) highlights London’s laggard standing as a recycler and its over-reliance on incineration.

• Solely 33 per cent of London’s native authority-collected waste is at the moment recycled – the bottom of any area within the UK (the England common is 43.8 per cent) and recycling charges have additionally stagnated – it has hovered across the 30 per cent mark since 2014-15.
• London burns over half its waste for vitality, sending the most important proportion of the whole native authority-collected waste to incineration at 63 per cent (2.3 million tonnes).
• Native authorities in London collected 99,000 metric tons of waste that was despatched to landfills within the yr ending 31 March 2020. As of 2018, the capability of landfills accepting London’s waste is anticipated to expire by 2026 and London’s waste invoice was additionally in extra of £2 billion a yr, and rising.
• A waste technique that pursues a round financial system, incorporating a tradition of stopping waste, in addition to reusing, recycling and repairing, can supply an answer.
• ReLondon has estimated {that a} round financial system may scale back waste by as much as 60 per cent. It could additionally save Londoners cash in a metropolis with a big inhabitants, as demonstrated by the rise of ‘freecycle’ teams and charities distributing undesirable electronics and furnishings.
• On common, 50 per cent of London’s inhabitants stay in flats: in some boroughs that is as excessive as 80 per cent.Flats usually have a scarcity of accessible and ample space for storing for recycling, and will be costly for native authorities to service.

The report makes a variety of suggestions to the Mayor of London, together with:

• Assessment London’s waste administration targets with a stronger emphasis positioned on reuse, restore and recycle. New targets needs to be set for an general discount in waste produced in London with yr by yr targets for particular types of waste administration.
• Foyer the Authorities and housing builders to assist greater requirements for recycling in flat developments, while making certain ample services are included in plans for housing funded immediately from the Mayor’s price range.
• Together with ReLondon work with native authorities to determine areas the place non-domestic meals waste assortment may very well be improved, constructing on the meals waste trial in Southwark. Given issues in regards to the rising value of residing, focus needs to be positioned on bringing hospitality companies in shut contact with charities needing meals donations.
• Assist insurance policies to cut back the quantity of waste that’s burned in incinerators. Having made it clear that he doesn’t assist new incineration capability, using incineration needs to be averted to minimise its affect and a round financial system and wider adjustments in consumption needs to be adopted to cut back waste.

Zack Polanski AM, Chair of the London Meeting Surroundings Committee, mentioned:

“Yearly London creates monstrous piles of waste that largely get burned, which is a big waste of sources. There’s a tonne of information proving how dangerous waste is, particularly single-use plastic, however the Mayor can do extra to alter public attitudes and affect policymakers to prioritise waste discount.

“Our metropolis wants a shift in tradition and behavior on the subject of managing waste. London must embrace a round financial system the place waste is minimised, and it’s the easiest and best option to restore and reuse. Because the saying goes, one particular person’s garbage is one other particular person’s treasure, and the round financial system is essential to creating positive extra gadgets are re-used or reconverted.

“The time is now for the Mayor to cleared the path by remodeling the best way our waste is managed. A round financial system can create new jobs, profit London’s financial system, and have a tremendously constructive affect on the surroundings.”