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INTRODUCTION Cutting waste and recovering value • once waste reduction and reuse AIM from more of it can provide a number of opportunities have been exhausted Our linear economy (take, make and benefits including jobs, apprenticeships, there must be a focus on maximising London will be dispose) is unsustainable. It produces secondary materials, and affordable the of materials that are left too much waste, with around 7m tonnes low carbon energy. Effective waste a coming from London’s homes, public management delivering high quality • generating low carbon energy from buildings and businesses each year, materials to market can give local truly residual waste leaving very little city. By 2026 no too much of which goes to and authorities a reliable high value income waste going to landfill . Of this, only 52 per cent is stream. This can help to offset costs biodegradable or currently recycled and performance has associated with service improvements. • ensuring that there is sufficient stagnated. Landfill and incineration are More of London’s reusable items infrastructure to support these recyclable waste undesirable, costly and an inefficient use like furniture, fittings and electrical actions within London helping to of resources. The capacity of appliances need to be kept in use. create opportunities for businesses will be sent to accepting London’s waste is expected Redistributing them to where they developing reuse, repair and to run out by 2026 and London’s waste are needed can create local work, remanufacturing services landfill and by 2030 bill is now in in excess of £2bn a year keep resource costs down and help and rising. reduce poverty. Roles and legal duties 65 per cent of The Mayor is required under the GLA Through increasingly clever design of The Mayor will take a circular approach to Act to produce a municipal waste London’s municipal goods and services we are beginning to London’s use of resources that designs management strategy. However, the treat our waste as the valuable resource out waste, keeps materials in use at their Mayor is not a waste authority and it waste will it is. In order to maximise this we need to highest value for as long as possible and is ultimately the and reduce waste in the first place and then minimises environmental impact. The disposal authorities, businesses and be recycled. reuse or recycle as much as possible. actions required to deliver this are: the industry that will What’s left over can then be used to implement the waste policies in this generate low carbon energy, minimising • firstly, significantly cutting waste and strategy in collaboration with the Mayor. the amount going to landfill. encouraging reuse to minimise the The Mayor’s role is a combination of use of virgin resources. Efforts will be exercising regulatory functions (ensuring focused on reducing food waste and local authority waste plans, services, single use packaging as they offer the strategies and contracts are in general biggest opportunity for change conformity with his waste policies and proposals) and non-regulatory functions LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 255

(funding, research, technical assistance, Taking this approach places no additional The London Waste and Recycling Board providing guidance, campaigns and legal requirement on London’s waste BOX 28: DEFINITIONS OF (LWARB) is also a key delivery partner facilitating and supporting good authorities, who must continue to act in TERMS USED IN THIS CHAPTER for his policies. It brings together the practice). There are 33 waste collection general conformity within the municipal Mayor, boroughs, and other stakeholders authorities (boroughs and City of provisions of this • “waste” refers to any substance involved in managing London’s waste London), 12 authorities that are “unitary” strategy, including binding targets for or object which the holder with the objective of promoting waste authorities (combined collection municipal waste in their discards, intends to discard or is and encouraging less waste and its and disposal), four statutory waste possession or control. required to discard sustainable management89 and it must disposal authorities and one voluntary • “municipal waste” household act in accordance with the Mayor’s 88 Municipal waste targets set in this waste partnership. The waste collection waste or business waste that is waste policies. The Mayor through his strategy are non-binding in so far as they authorities and the waste disposal similar in composition irrespective appointed representatives on LWARB relate to Commercial Waste Contractors authorities are referred to as ‘waste of who collects or disposes of it oversees a £20.4m fund from 2017-2020 authorities’ in this strategy. (CWCs). The Mayor expects CWCs to to deliver against its objectives of have regard to those municipal waste • “Local Authority Collected reducing waste and increasing reuse In 2011 Defra changed the definition targets and they will be achieved through Waste (LACW)” refers to all waste and recycling (see Box 29). of municipal waste to align with the EU additional activity and services by in the possession or control of definition, which defines municipal waste waste authorities, the commercial waste waste authorities. This includes much more broadly to be household industry and other relevant organisations waste collected from households waste or waste similar in composition working in partnership with the Mayor. and businesses to household waste. Applying this • “waste authority (ies)” means definition brings an additional 3.3 million To avoid confusion this strategy uses a Waste Collection Authority tonnes of waste into scope, regardless of the terms set out in Box 28. and a Waste Disposal Authority. who collects it. This change was It includes London’s 33 waste made to make sure that the UK is collection authorities (all 32 correctly reporting its performance boroughs and the City of London), for meeting its landfill diversion those 12 authorities that are targets under the European Landfill “unitary” waste authorities Directive. Commercially collected waste (combined collection and is covered in this strategy because of disposal) and the 4 statutory its importance to London’s environment waste disposal authorities generally. • “Commercially Collected Waste” refers to municipal waste in the possession or control of a body or organisation that is not a waste authority

88 South London Waste Partnership comprising Merton, Sutton, Kingston upon Thames and Croydon. LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 257

BOX 29: LONDON WASTE AND RECYCLING BOARD (LWARB)

The London Waste and Recycling • make the case to central Board (LWARB) was established under government for additional funding the Greater London Authority Act to support London waste authorities 2007 (the Act). LWARB must act in to help drive up recycling and reuse accordance with the provisions of the performance London Environment Strategy, dealing with municipal waste management, • invest £7m through London and act in general conformity with the Green Fund 2 in high growth early London Plan, so far as relating to the stage circular economy businesses. collection, treatment and disposal of LWARB is also investing £1.5m waste. in Circularity Capital, a circular economy growth capital fund, and Through LWARB, the Mayor will: will invest a further £1.5m in a • oversee a £20.4m fund between circular economy accelerator. These 2017 and 2020 funds will look to fund innovative circular economy business across • work with waste authorities to London especially reuse, repair and identify and implement the best remanufacturing projects mechanisms for improving recycling and those using low performance in flats in carbon technologies a cost effective way

• provide £6.4m funding between 2017 and 2020 through Resource London to support local authorities to improve recycling rates and provide high quality and well participated municipal waste recycling services

89 More information can be found at www.lwarb.gov.uk. LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 259

The Mayor’s waste powers: general conformity and power of direction. BOX 30: WASTE AUTHORITY EXPECTATIONS

In performing their waste functions, The Mayor expects waste authorities to ensure a consistent reduce, waste authorities need to show how they to do the following in order to show reuse, recycle message is are acting in general conformity with they are acting in general conformity delivered across London the municipal waste provisions of this with this strategy’s municipal waste strategy. General conformity only applies management policies and proposals. • demonstrate how they will, to local authority collected waste (LACW) They should: or have put in place positive activities and cannot bring excessive changes to improve recycling additional costs to waste authorities. • produce a waste management performance identified through The Mayor has the power to direct a strategy or plan setting out how Resource London’s borough waste authority where he considers their waste activities will: support programme their waste activities to be detrimental to implementing the municipal waste ºº help move waste up the • publicly notify its intention to tender provisions in this strategy. His power of a waste contract at the same time direction does not apply to businesses as notifying the Mayor. This would or private waste companies. ºº provide local economic, social be a chance for waste authorities and environmental benefits from considering new services to The Mayor expects waste authorities improved waste management consider joint procurement options. to help successfully implement his These can provide better value for municipal waste management policies ºº make a meaningful contribution money on ‘like for like’ services and proposals. These expectations are to meeting the Mayor’s targets and achieve service harmonisation set out in Box 30 below. This will ensure across borough boundaries that a consistent approach is taken to • offer the Mayor’s minimum applying general conformity. level of household recycling • procure waste and recycling service provision services that maximise local economic, environmental and social • make best use of local waste sites benefits through demonstrating identified in local waste plans how they will deliver the Mayor’s Responsible Procurement Policy • support the phase out of fossil fuel waste transport and boost uptake • carry out any other relevant activity of low or zero emission alternatives supporting the Mayor’s policies and targets • use Recycle for London messaging in local awareness raising activities LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 261

Non-municipal waste LONDON’S ENVIRONMENT NOW London produces around 1.5 – 1.75m The Mayor has no responsibility or tonnes of food waste with a value of “Around 7m powers in this strategy to directly control The key evidence to support the Mayor’s £2.55bn a year.90 This is likely to be a the management of and ambitions for London’s waste by 2050 is conservative figure given the extensive tonnes of waste construction, demolition and excavation summarised below. You can find out more and diverse food sector employing more waste where it is not in the possession or about the evidence behind the policies than half a million Londoners and turning is produced each control of a waste authority. The Mayor, and proposals in Appendix 2. over £20bn each year.91 Most of this food can however, use convening, leadership waste goes to landfill or incineration year from our and advocacy to drive improvements. Total amount of municipal waste producing around 250,000 tonnes of This non-municipal waste is produced in London CO2e emissions, although some of this homes, public predominantly managed by commercial London’s municipal waste stream is is offset through capturing heat and waste contractors (CWCs). These waste made up of a variety of materials. The producing electricity.92 Around a third buildings and streams are already highly regulated, main components of municipal waste of food bought is thrown away, most of increasingly managed onsite and in some in London are food and green garden which is still edible. WRAP (Waste and businesses.” cases require specialised management waste (22 per cent) and common dry Resources Action Programme) estimates and disposal (for example asbestos and recyclables paper, card, plastics, glass food waste costs households around £50 ). However, given their and metals (60 per cent). The remaining per month. impact on other objectives for London’s 18 per cent is made up of smaller environment, the Mayor considers it quantities of materials including textiles, Use of single use packaging materials important to set out in this strategy the waste electricals (WEEE) wood, furniture including coffee cups and plastic bottles expectations for these waste streams. In and household cleaning chemicals. is growing and putting increasing addition, the London Plan details policies pressure on local waste management supporting effective management of Around 7m tonnes of waste is produced services. WRAP’s plastic market situation 93 these other waste streams as they each year from our homes, public report 2016 estimated the UK produces are generally considered a waste buildings and businesses. Food waste around 2.2m tonnes of plastic packaging planning issue. and plastic packaging including single with only around half (or 900,000 tonnes) use coffee cups and plastic bottles recycled. In the UK, around 825,000 combined account for around tonnes of plastic bottles are produced 30 per cent of this. a year. This leads to around 125,000 tonnes produced in London.

90 Taking national food waste data published by WRAP Estimate of food surplus and waste arisings in the UK, January 2017 and applying a London equivalent estimate based on London making up around 15 per cent of the UK population. 91 Mayor of London (2016), Capital of Food: Ten Years of London Leadership. Accessed from: www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/capital_of_ food_report.pdf 92 Emission factors taken from Appendix 1 EPS report. Assumes 50 per cent food waste sent to landfill, 50 per cent sent to incineration. 93 WRAP (2016), Plastics Market Situation Report. Accessed from: www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Plastics_Market_Situation_Report.pdf LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 263

There is a significant opportunity London needs to increase its recycling to reduce London’s waste bill and rate. However, it faces many challenges environmental impact if food waste and to achieving high weight based recycling single use packaging were to be cut. performance including: Cutting this waste stream by 20 per cent could take about £42m off • there are 33 waste authorities London’s waste disposal bill.94 providing different waste and recycling collection services. This makes it Reuse and repair confusing for residents to know what Preparing discarded items for reuse and they can recycle, especially when they repair creates jobs. It also provides wider move to another borough. social benefits through the redistribution of discarded items to those in need. • on average 50 per cent of the Online platforms such as Warpit and population live in flats, with some Globechain have been used to help boroughs being as high as 80 per local authorities and businesses loan cent. Flats often have a lack of easily and donate their unwanted items to accessible sufficient storage space other businesses and charities. These for recycling, and can be expensive initiatives have helped to avoid around for local authorities to service 1.5m tonnes of items becoming waste and going to landfill, saving around • London has a highly transient £10m in waste costs, and benefiting and diverse population with over over 15,000 people across the UK. 100 languages spoken. This can make communicating recycling Recycling services difficult In 2016 it was estimated that 52 per cent of London’s municipal waste was • there are few gardens in London recycled or composted while around producing less green (heavy) waste 37 per cent was sent to landfill or for composting compared with incineration. The remaining 11 per cent other regions was managed through other sorting and treatment methods.95 • there is no requirement to provide recycling collection services from businesses.

94 Based on plastic bottles and food waste collectively making up around 30 per cent of London’s municipal waste or 2.1m tonnes. Assumes an average disposal cost of £100 per tonne. Credit: Resource London & London Borough of Waltham Forest 95 Taken from GLA modelling LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 265

TYPE OF GRAPH: WASTE

Between 2003 and 2010, London’s waste facilities will need to operate Reference household waste recycling rate increased Reducing the amount of edible food we in combined heat and power mode from eight to 30 per cent but in recent discard is an environmental, social and meeting the carbon intensity floor years this has stalled at 32 per cent economic priority. However there will (see Objective 7.3) (see Figure 40) and remains below the always be unavoidable food waste in national average (44 per cent). the form of , vegetable peelings Landfill and bones which should be sent for London’s local authority collected waste composting or energy recovery. Such to landfill has reduced significantly over 96 Figure 40: Regional household dry recycling and composting rates 2015/2016 food waste can be used to generate the past ten years from 65 per cent to 20 Fig 9: Regional household dry recycling and composting rates 2015/16 100 per cent renewable energy using per cent. This improvement was largely anaerobic digestion. This would save due to the EU which has around 175,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions restricted the amount of biodegradable 97 and save £120m in disposal costs. waste member states can send to landfill. Landfills accepting London’s Incineration waste, most of which are located outside Incineration of London’s local authority London, are expected to reach capacity collected waste has doubled from by 2026. The Mayor wants London to 900,000 tonnes in 2011 to 1.8m be a zero waste city – one that makes tonnes in 2016, producing around best use of all its waste where market 2 560,000 tonnes of CO e emissions. opportunities exist to recover value from This is mainly due to changes in waste it. This means ensuring London sends disposal contracts that have led to no biodegradable or recyclable waste to more waste being diverted from landfill landfill by 2026. E L to incineration. London now has the N N E S S E second highest incineration rate across The waste hierarchy E M M The waste hierarchy is applied from the Y the UK behind the North East at 50 per Household green recycling/ reuse Household dry recycling/ reuse cent. Modelling suggests London will top down prioritising those activities have sufficient incineration capacity further up the hierarchy according to manage London’s non-recyclable to what is best for the environment Source:Source: Defra Defra (2017), (2017), Local Local authority authority collected collected waste generation waste generation from April 2000 from to March April 2016 2000 (England to March and regions) 2016 and local authority data April 2015municipal to March 2016. waste once the new Edmonton (Figure 41). (England and regions) and local authority data April 2015 to March 2016.  Available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env18-local-authority-collected-waste-annual-results-tables and Beddington Lane facilities are operational. All London’s incinerators Applying the waste hierarchy from the are expected to be ready for heat off top down generally achieves the greatest take by 2025. Any new energy from cost saving and CO2e saving benefits.

96 Based on food waste making up around 18 per cent or1.2m tonnes of London’s municipal waste. Applies -0.14 tonne CO2 avoided/per tonne food waste to anaerobic digestion emission factor 97 Assuming average incineration and landfill cost of £100 per tonne LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 267

Reducing, reusing, and recycling waste waste management. Materials sent for and then generating energy from the recycling have a market value which waste remaining is a direct way to save boroughs can share in depending on TYPE OF GRAPH: WASTE emissions from landfill. It also avoids their waste arrangements and contracts indirect emissions that would otherwise with external service providers. Reducing have occurred in manufacturing from waste and moving to a higher re-use and Reference virgin materials or generating energy recycling based approach should bring using fossil fuels (such as coal or savings to local authorities. gas). Considering direct and indirect emissions helps us to determine the The policies and proposals in this overall lifecycle CO2e performance of chapter follow the waste hierarchy.

Fig 1: The waste hierarchy Figure 41: Waste hierarchy

S I

Using less material in design and manufacture. Keeping products for longer: re-use using less hazardous material.

Checking, cleaning, repairing, refurbishing, repair; whole items or spare parts.

Turning waste into a new substance or product R including composting if it meets quality protocols

Including anaerobic digestion, incineration with energy O recovery, gasification and pyrolysis which produce energy (fuels, heat and power) and materials from waste; some backfilling operations.

D Landfill and incineration without energy recovery

Source: European Commission (2008), Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive).

Source: European Commission (2008), Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive). Available at: ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/framework/ LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 269

ZERO WASTE LONDON

Currently Zero waste London Emissions Performance The composition below is from Local Authority collected waste, Working together, London’s approach to waste can be transformed, helping to conserve Standard which includes household and some business waste. This will vary resources and reduce the city’s impact on the local and global environment. between property types, for example, houses and flats, and also Achieving our goals will save where a service varies for that property. (based on a 2015/16 baseline):

2021 2025 2031 101,000 tonnes 169,000 tonnes 535,000 tonnes of CO2e saved of CO2e saved of CO2e saved

Cut food waste by 20% Using fewer and cleaner lorries to transport waste, for per person by 2025 example by consolidating commercial recycling contracts, will reduce congestion and improve air quality

POWERED BY WASTE Food 18%

Non-recyclable waste can be used to generate energy to heat homes and workplaces

Reducing plastic bottle Main dry and coffee cup waste. recyclables (e.g. glass, mixed plastics, paper, card, tins, cans) 44% Mayor’s minimum level of recycling service, i.e. 6 main materials and food waste collections

ISLINGTON N

65% of London’s municipal LAMBETH SW Other recyclables waste recycled by 2030 (e.g. electrical waste, textiles and wood) No biodegradable or recyclable waste will be sent to 10% landfill by 2026

OEN Other (e.g film, contaminated/broken waste, some drink LANDFILL cups, garden waste) 28% LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 271

Objectives, policies and proposals

OBJECTIVE 7.1 DRIVE RESOURCE “The Mayor EFFICIENCY TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE WASTE, FOCUSING ON adopts a ‘circular FOOD WASTE AND SINGLE USE approach’ to the The Mayor adopts a ‘circular approach’ to use of resources in the use of resources in London, ensuring that materials stay in use as long as London, ensuring possible, reducing the amount of virgin materials required and that materials maximising recycling. The Mayor wants to prevent materials from becoming stay in use as waste in the first place by promoting more sustainable, circular business long as possible, models that design out waste and ensures materials can be easily reducing the reused and recycled. amount of virgin Food waste (including drink waste) and single use packaging accounts materials required for around 30 per cent of London’s municipal waste. In the UK, for every two and maximising tonnes of food eaten, another tonne is wasted most of which goes to landfill recycling.” or incineration. Eight out of the top ten countries the UK imports food from are drought prone. Tackling food waste offers an opportunity to increase the resilience of London’s supply chain, reduce costs of dealing with the waste and reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions. Single use hot drink cups and plastic bottles are an increasing problem. It is estimated that over 40 million cups are thrown away each year in London, many of which are not recycled and are therefore sent to landfill or incineration. LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 273

Policy 7.1.1 The Mayor will work Through working with LWARB and releasing toxic chemicals. Single use “By 2025, food with Londoners, waste authorities, Resource London, waste authorities and plastic bottles form the most prevalent government and other stakeholders other relevant parties, the Mayor will form of plastic packaging in our oceans waste will have to significantly cut waste support campaigns including Recycle and accelerated action is needed for London, Love Food Hate Waste, to phase out non-recyclable plastic Proposal 7.1.1a The Mayor will support reduced by 20% and Trifocal to help Londoners and packaging. Some large companies have campaigns and initiatives to prevent businesses to reduce waste. The Mayor already responded to this challenge food going to waste per person.” will apply lessons and best practice pledging to ensure 100 per cent of The Courtauld Commitment 2025 taken from previous programmes such its plastic packaging is fully reusable, (C2025) is a key initiative for London and as the GLA’s Foodsave programme. recyclable or compostable by 2025. The the UK to significantly cut food waste. Foodsave worked with 170 business Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) have This is an ambitious voluntary agreement and charities, helping small businesses also unveiled a business backed action that brings together organisations to save around £6,000 per year from plan as part of its New Plastics Economy across the food system, from producer reducing food waste and collectively work to crack down on plastic waste and to consumer, to make food and drink preventing around 1200 tonnes of food recycle 70 per cent of plastic packaging production and consumption more waste going to landfill or incineration. globally. The Mayor calls on food and sustainable. It sets a target of 20 per drink businesses to offer incentives cent reduction in food and drink waste Proposal 7.1.1b The Mayor will support for their customers to use their own and the associated GHG emissions per campaigns and initiatives to cut the use reusable drink cups and water bottles. person by 2025. The Mayor will be a of single use packaging The Mayor will also take the following actions to reduce the amount of plastic key engagement partner to C2025 and Plastic packaging blights our streets, bottles and single use cups: working with WRAP and LWARB will strive finds its way into oceans harming wildlife to achieve these targets in London. and takes centuries to break down whilst LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 274 275

Credit: The Restart Project, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

• investigating the feasibility of a • working with the supply chain from benefit from circular economy business a circular economy growth capital fund deposit return scheme for water manufacturers to retailers and waste models in five mains areas: products as and accelerator to provide support for bottles through the government’s authorities to trial and roll out coffee a service, sharing economy, prolonging those companies who will be growing strategy working group cup recycling bins across London. product life, renewable inputs and the circular economy in London and recovering value at end of life. delivering the co-benefits of greenhouse • working with stakeholders including Proposal 7.1.1c The Mayor, will support gas emission reductions and increased environment groups, Transport for campaigns, initiatives and business The Mayor, through LWARB, will invest resilience for the city. London and LWARB to improve models to reuse materials funds into developing businesses access to tap water through that embrace the circular approach to The Mayor will work with organisations The Mayor will work with LWARB, Ellen community water refill schemes resource use especially businesses including the Restart Project, Globechain MacArthur Foundation and other building on existing schemes with reuse, repair and remanufacturing and Warpit to boost materials repair partners to develop a circular business projects and those using low carbon and help divert unwanted items to programme to increase reuse of • working with the GLA group to reduce technologies. LWARB will also invest in useful purposes. plastic bottle sales and improve access materials. This will support entrepreneurs to tap water on all our premises and businesses to adopt, scale up and TYPE OF GRAPH: AIR QUALITY LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 277

Reference

Proposal 7.1.1d The Mayor will lead by FigureFig 41: 42: Achieving the 65 per cent municipal waste recycling rate by 2030 “The Mayor wants example to cut waste and encourage

reuse through the GLA group’s to achieve an operations and procurement activities Not recycled Not recycled Suppliers to the GLA group will be Non-Household overall 65 per cent Recycled required to take measures to reduce the Not recycled Household municipal waste waste produced in the services that they Recycled provide and increase repair and reuse Recycled Non-Household (84%) 65% of products. The Mayor expects London Waste municipal recycling rate (by waste waste authorities to show leadership Not recycled recycled 52% to reduce waste and increase resource municipal (63%) weight) by 2030 waste efficiency locally through their own recycled procurement activities, using the GLA’s 50% in London.” LACW

T Recycled Recycled Responsible Procurement Policy as a (32%) (42%) best practice standard. Household Waste

OBJECTIVE 7.2 MAXIMISE Not recycled Not recycled RECYCLING RATES

The Mayor wants to achieve an overall 65 per cent municipal waste recycling rate (by weight) by 2030 in London. Source: GLA Waste model. Household waste and recycling figures taken from Defra waste data flow Achieving this target will require statistics. Non-household waste and recycling figures are estimates only informed by the Defra C&I waste survey 2009. a significant improvement in both the household and non-household components of municipal waste recycling, from the current rate of 52 per cent. To help achieve this a separate 50 per cent LACW recycling target is set for waste authorities under Proposal 7.2.1a.

98 In line with market, reprocessors and recycling industry standards. LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 279

Figure 42 shows how London can move for collection. Introducing separate from 52 per cent municipal waste food waste collections in particular has recycling rate today to 65 per cent been proven to boost recycling rates by 2030. This rate will be achieved by and reduce contamination with dry increasing recycling from non household recycling materials. This also reduces the waste sources, including businesses, amount of food people waste, as people schools and government organisations, become more aware of how much they from around 63 per cent today to 84 per are throwing away. An intense focus on cent by 2030. Implementing the best set recycling from flats is also needed. of household waste recycling services identified in WRAP modelling would Implementing the best set of household contribute a ten per cent increase. Waste recycling interventions is estimated authorities are encouraged to boost to cost waste authorities an extra their non-household waste recycling £107m-£319m. This can be offset by collection services in order to meet income from business waste recycling the Mayor’s 50% LACW target by 2025 services, reduced disposal costs (Policy 7.2.1). and developing more shared revenue contracts. The South London Partnership Achieving the 65 per cent overall has seen savings of over £200m from municipal waste recycling target requires bringing together their contracts in a more consistent services to be offered more efficient and cost effective way. It across London. For households these means that the same services are now include, separate food waste collections, offered to all who live in the partnership’s collecting the same core set of dry four boroughs of Sutton, Merton, recycling materials and measures to Kingston-upon-Thames and Croydon. reduce the residual waste presented

Credit: Resource London & London Borough of Waltham Forest LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 281

Policy 7.2.1 Increase recycling rates (at the latest) and also look to provide Achieving the 50 per cent target will “ The Mayor wants for local authority collected waste this to flats where feasible. They should inevitably mean some waste authorities also collect other items for recycling achieving higher recycling rates than Proposal 7.2.1a The Mayor will set waste authorities from households such as small electrical others recognising that there are targets for local authority collected waste, foil and tetra packs where it local circumstances and challenges, waste, a minimum level of service for to collectively makes sense to do so. particularly in those boroughs with household waste recycling collections a high proportion of flats. achieve a 50 and hold a contract register of waste Some waste authorities have authority waste contracts experienced cost savings and recycling The Mayor will hold a contract register to per cent LACW The Mayor wants waste authorities to improvements from reduced collection monitor when waste authority contracts collectively achieve a 50 per cent LACW of residual waste, through reducing come up for renewal. Waste authorities recycling target recycling target by 2025 and aspire to bin sizes or changing the frequency in developing their waste contracts achieve 60 per cent by 2030. of collections The Mayor encourages will need to share relevant contract by 2025.” waste authorities to consider information and notify their intention to To help them achieve these targets waste such interventions. procure in the register. The register will authorities should deliver the following be available for all waste authorities to minimum level of service for household Modelling carried out by WRAP shows view and therefore provide joint working recycling: that it is feasible to achieve an increase opportunities. The Mayor will seek views in household waste recycling from 32 per on which contracts are most appropriate • all properties with kerbside recycling cent today to 42-43 per cent by 2022. for advertising in the register. collections to receive a separate The remaining gap to achieve 50 per cent weekly food waste collection LACW recycling target can be met by Through the contract register and waste authorities developing or boosting working with LWARB and waste • all kerbside serviced properties to their business and other non-household authorities, the Mayor will identify receive a collection of, at a minimum, waste collection services. opportunities to promote greater the six main dry recycling materials consistency to help harmonise waste (glass, cans, paper, card, plastic Modelling and research in the evidence and recycling services in London to bottles and mixed plastics (tubs, base (see Appendix 2) shows where achieve the best economy of scale pots and trays)98 the opportunities are to improve and service provision benefits. waste authority collection recycling Waste authorities will need to performance. It includes what can be Support will continue to be available, demonstrate how they will meet the realistically achieved at a borough through LWARB’s Resource London above minimum level of service by 2020 level and addresses the issue of programme, for waste authorities to London’s low performing recycling rate model the impact on their recycling rates and fragmented collection services. and identify the mechanisms to achieve a minimum level of service, in a cost effective and accelerated way.

98 In line with market, reprocessors and recycling industry standards LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 283

Proposal 7.2.1b The Mayor will support to business. LBWR has been capitalised There have been recent pilot studies with Defra and waste companies to efforts to increase recycling rates in through a loan from LWARB and all its in London in Bond Street BID and New improve commercial waste data ensuring flats profits are passed on to the participating York on consolidating waste services. all waste operators in London are using London boroughs. LBWR is currently These look at introducing a single Electronic Duty of Care to record what The Mayor will encourage Resource operating in one borough and a further waste contractor to run collections happens to the waste they produce and London to provide more support and three boroughs are in the process of to businesses in a designated area. handle. This improved data will allow funding to those waste authorities who agreeing partnership arrangements The pilots were successful in helping opportunities for consolidated services are working towards achieving higher with it. A number of other boroughs to reduce the number of collection to be identified more easily. recycling performance in flats. Through have expressed interest in exploring vehicles and improve local air quality. LWARB the Mayor will seek additional opportunities to work with the Bond Street saw a 94 per cent drop in Proposal 7.2.2b The Mayor will support funding to tackle recycling performance business and these will be pursued waste vehicle movements. As a result, waste authorities to reduce littering in flats. in the coming year. TfL has developed a free toolkit helping and fly tipping by working with neighbouring businesses to consolidate government on the implementation Proposal 7.2.1c The Mayor, through Policy 7.2.2 Increase recycling rates their waste collection services to save of its Litter Strategy for England LWARB’s London Business Waste for commercially collected waste and money and reduce vehicle movements. Recycling (LBWR) service, will support Local authorities are responsible reduce litter and fly tipping New York City are now taking this waste authorities to boost commercial for litter and enforcing and prosecuting one step further and looking into reuse and recycling performance. The Mayor will work with LWARB, the small scale of waste establishing a commercial waste zone waste sector generally and other (fly tipping). The Environment Agency is To meet the Mayor’s 50 per cent LACW system across the city, where waste stakeholders to improve recycling responsible for prosecuting large scale recycling target, waste authorities collection companies bid to be part of services to businesses provided by offences. Fly tipping in London is a big should identify opportunities to improve a geographical framework to provide commercial waste contractors. This will problem due to the cost of clearance and their own commercial waste recycling waste and recycling services to business be necessary to achieve the Mayor’s its negative effect on the streetscape. services. Boroughs are expected to in the city. They want to find out if there overall 65 per cent municipal waste offer businesses the same household is enough inefficiency in how waste is recycling target by 2030 and will also The Mayor will work with government minimum level of service where feasible. collected and whether collection zones provide local air quality and street scene and the Chartered Institute of Waste Support is currently available through can reduce these by creating benefits benefits by reducing the number Management (CIWM) to promote duty of LWARB’s London Business Waste and like better recycling rates, working of waste vehicles on the road. care to waste authorities and businesses. conditions and wages. Recycling (LBWR) service to boost The Mayor will use CIWM Right Waste, commercial recycling services. Proposal 7.2.2a The Mayor will support Right Place campaign to build on any The Mayor will work with TfL and efforts to consolidate commercially knowledge gaps and help reduce fly London Business Waste and Recycling Business Improvement Districts collected waste services to improve tipping and litter in London and will is a new start up company owned by (BIDs) to promote the waste contract recycling performance, reduce also seek a seat on the government’s LWARB which provides commercial consolidation toolkit and look at the congestion, improve the public realm Litter Strategy Working Group to ensure waste marketing and customer facing feasibility of a commercial waste and improve air quality London’s needs are taken into account. services on behalf of London boroughs framework in London. He will also work LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 285

OBJECTIVE 7.3 REDUCE THE Policy 7.3.1 Reduce emissions from Waste authorities in procuring their “Reducing the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF transport of waste waste fleets and waste transport WASTE ACTIVITIES services should demonstrate how they Proposal 7.3.1a Waste authorities environmental will promote the use of sustainable Reducing the environmental impact must demonstrate how they will transport modes, renewable fuels and of how London manages its waste is transition their waste fleets to low or impact of how other low emission options in their important if London is to become a zero emission options, prioritising the relevant tender specification documents. London manages zero carbon city with a zero emission phasing out of diesel transport network by 2050. The Waste authority waste fleets are Proposal 7.3.1b The Mayor will work Mayor wants to make sure that waste its waste is expected to comply with the Ultra Low with stakeholders to encourage authorities are contributing all they Emission Zone (ULEZ) vehicle exhaust a reduction in municipal waste possibly can to these ambitions important if emission standards and to work towards transported by road and will increase through decarbonising and cleaning the Mayor’s overall ambition that: its transportation by rail London is to up their fleets. and river • all new cars and vans (less than 3.5 There is also an opportunity to reduce The Mayor will work with waste become a zero tonnes) being zero emission capable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions authorities, TfL, National Rail, the Port of from 2025 carbon city with from waste management activities. In London and other relevant stakeholders 2010 the GLA developed a pioneering to increase the transportation of • all heavy vehicles (greater than emissions performance standard (EPS) municipal waste by rail and river. This will a zero emission 3.5 tonnes) being fossil fuel-free to assess the GHG emissions associated not only reduce congestion on the roads from 2030 transport network with the collection, treatment, energy but will also deliver air quality and carbon generation, and final disposal of emission benefits. • zero emission fleets by 2050 by 2050.” London’s local authority collected waste. Policy 7.3.2 Reduce the climate change Fossil-fuel free can include the use of While the Mayor has a weight based impact of waste activities 100 per cent renewable fuels derived target of 65 per cent of municipal waste from sources such as food waste and Proposal 7.3.2a Waste authorities in being recycled overall by 2030, he is also waste oils. delivering their waste management retaining a carbon based EPS approach functions are expected to demonstrate that will sit alongside this target. Sending Working with waste authorities, TfL, how they can meet the GHG Emissions waste to landfill or incineration generates and the waste industry the Mayor will Performance Standard (EPS) GHG emissions whereas recycling increase the use of renewable fuels materials avoids GHG emissions that from waste derived sources including The Mayor will set a revised EPS for would have otherwise occurred in the biodiesel, hydro-treated vegetable oil London’s LACW for waste authorities manufacturing of virgin materials. and bio-methane, as a transition fuel, to work towards achieving. Waste A carbon based approach promotes in municipal waste fleets. authorities should aim to achieve both recycling particularly of high carbon and high value materials such as plastic, metals and textiles. LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 287

the Mayor’s LACW recycling targets In performing their waste functions the and EPS targets although the Mayor’s Mayor expects waste authorities to set LACW targets will take priority. Achieving out how their waste activities achieve high recycling rates generally offers the following EPS targets: the greatest opportunity for reducing CO2 e emissions and meeting the EPS. • 0.069 tonnes CO2e per tonne of waste The Mayor will develop guidance on managed by 2020/21 achieving the weight based recycling targets and meeting the EPS. The Mayor • 0.084 tonnes CO2e per tonne of waste has developed an online ready reckoner managed by 2024/25 tool to support boroughs model their waste options against the EPS. This can • 0.167 tonnes CO2e per tonne of waste be found at www.london.gov.uk/what-we- managed by 2030/31 do/environment/waste-and-recycling/ waste-policy. Meeting the EPS is best The Mayor will monitor and report achieved by: annually on London’s performance against the EPS and work with the • reducing waste and increasing reuse Environment Agency to ensure that there are no adverse impacts on the • maximising recycling rates, targeting environment including air quality. materials with high embodied carbon (plastics, metals, and textiles) Proposal 7.3.2b Waste authorities must demonstrate how solutions generating • generating low carbon energy from energy from waste meet the carbon organic waste (eg anaerobic digestion intensity floor (CIF), or put in place of food waste) demonstrable steps to meet it in the short-term • using waste derived fuels (as a In addition to developing the EPS, a transition fuel) and other low CO2 minimum carbon emissions performance transport options standard was set. Known as the ‘carbon intensity floor’ or CIF, this was developed • making sure only truly residual waste to help decarbonise London’s energy is going for energy generation supply by encouraging clean, efficient Credit: WRAP • avoiding landfill LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 289

and local energy generation from • generating energy from 100 per cent The Mayor, through his Decentralised London’s non-recycled waste. Waste organic waste (e.g. anaerobic digestion Energy Enabling Programme will work “ The Mayor wants going to energy from waste plants often of food waste). This is deemed to be with London’s incinerator operators and contains large amounts of recyclable carbon neutral waste authorities to identify solutions to retain the materials that are high carbon and high that can meet the CIF as they develop value. Reducing the amount of high • using energy generation facilities their waste contracts and strategies. economic value carbon materials particularly plastics and generating both heat and power This may include linking thermal metals going to energy from waste plants treatment options proposed in their of London’s waste will deliver greenhouse gas savings, and • using waste derived fuels and other contracts with proposals in local energy reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. This low CO2 transport options master plans that support combined within London will drive change and investment within heat and power (CHP) opportunities. boroughs and with facility operators to Steps to demonstrate compliance with Opportunities include connecting to and ensure that ensure that truely residual waste is used the CIF should include but are not be existing homes and to new developments to generate both heat and power for the limited to: delivered though GLA Housing Zones, London can benefit of Londoners. Opportunity Areas and other major • ongoing reductions in the amount of development schemes. manage 100 The Mayor will retain, for waste high fossil carbon materials sent for authorities, a target CIF level of 400 incineration or gasification that could OBJECTIVE 7.4 MAXIMISE LOCAL per cent of its grams of CO2 per kWh of electricity be recycled WASTE SITES AND ENSURE LONDON produced from LACW until at least 2025. HAS SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE TO waste within the • activities resulting in investment in MANAGE ALL THE WASTE IT PRODUCES Meeting this CIF target effectively rules technology or infrastructure improving city by 2026.” The Mayor wants to retain the economic out the use of traditional mass burn the overall efficiency of the facility to value of London’s waste within London incineration techniques generating meet the CIF and ensure that London can manage electricity only. It supports the take up of 100 per cent of its waste within the city highly efficient technologies generating • waste authorities and relevant by 2026. both heat and power. Achieving the CIF facility operators actively supporting target can be done by: rollout of existing energy master plans to help connect heat infrastructure In 2015 London managed around half the waste it produced within London. • reaching high recycling rates to local developments Most exported waste goes to landfill including plastics, metals and mainly in the South East, and, along with textiles. This reduces the ‘carbon The CIF will be reviewed by 2025, or it goes the economic value of recovered intensity’ of residual waste going earlier where appropriate, once London’s materials for reuse, recycling or energy to energy generation heat networks and demand are better understood, with a view to tightening generation. Although waste to landfill • pre-treatment to remove recyclable it to around 300 grams per kWh of has declined by 70 per cent since 2005, materials from the residual electricity produced. London still landfills around 1 million waste stream tonnes of waste each year costing LONDON ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY 291

around £100 million.99 Landfills accepting The GLA has developed a GIS map of London’s waste are expected to close London’s waste facilities https://maps. Q by 2026 and no new capacity planned. london.gov.uk/webmaps/waste/. The To deal with this London needs to firstly London waste map, updated on an annual CONSULTATION QUESTIONS: WASTE reduce waste produced and secondly basis, is publicly available to help London 1. Do you agree that the Mayor’s 4. What needs to happen to tackle poor ensure it has access to sufficient waste authorities, its two Mayoral policies and proposals will effectively recycling performance in flats? capacity to recover value from more Development Corporations and waste help Londoners and businesses to of its waste and remove any reliance facility operators to identity and access recycle more? 5. What are the most effective on landfill. local waste facilities and find suitable measures to reduce single-use sites for new facilities. 2. Do you support the Mayor’s ambition packaging in London such as water The Mayor, through the new London Plan, to ensure food waste and the six bottles and coffee cups? will set policies for the identification and Proposal 7.4.1b The Mayor will support main recyclable materials (glass, safeguarding of waste sites in London the development of new waste cans, paper, card, plastic bottles 6. Please provide any further to enable 100 per cent of London’s infrastructure supporting circular and mixed plastics) are collected comments on the policies municipal waste to be managed within economy outcomes reuse, repair and consistently across London? and programmes mentioned in London by 2026. remanufacture this chapter. 3. Do you think the Mayor should set Policy 7.4.1 Supporting the use of local Through LWARB the Mayor will borough specific household waste waste sites and promoting a circular encourage investment into new waste recycling targets? approach to waste management facilities where they are needed. The Mayor wants to see London’s waste sites london.gov.uk/environment-strategy Proposal 7.4.1a Waste authorities in optimised to support circular economy developing their waste contracts and activities like reuse and repair providing services will need to identify how environmental and social benefits by to maximise the use of local waste creating new jobs and apprenticeships. facilities and identified sites for waste This will be supported by LWARB’s Advance London work programme which The Mayor expects waste authorities will enable and provide support and to consider the use of local waste sites funding to businesses that use circular where they deliver clear local benefits economy business models. helping to keep the value of London’s waste in London.

99 Based on landfill costs of £102 per tonne including landfill tax of £84.40 per tonne. Source WRAP gatefees report 2016