Waste

5.65 The Mayor is committed to a policy framework for waste management which starts from the position the best approach is to reduce the amount of waste that arises in the first place. Where this is not possible, he supports an approach based on the waste hierarchy that emphasises re-use, and then recycling and composting, before energy recovery and disposal. Generally, applying the waste hierarchy will achieve the greatest carbon dioxide equivalent savings. However, there are certain circumstances where the waste hierarchy conflicts with achieving the greatest climate change mitigation benefits. For example, depending on the condition of wood, it may be better to generate energy using wood waste rather than to recycle it. In these cases the approach that will deliver the greater climate change mitigation benefits should be given preference. This Plan, and the Mayor’s waste strategies, set out policies to achieve this.

5.66 The Mayor believes that making better use of waste has a major role to play in tackling climate change and that London’s waste is a valuable resource that should be exploited for London’s benefit, and not solely a disposal problem. London cannot deal with these issues in isolation. The Mayor works closely with neighbouring regions and local authorities to ensure these challenges and opportunities are addressed in the most environmentally friendly and effective ways possible. London has a leading part to play in ensuring this.

5.67 With this in mind, London should manage as much of the capital’s waste within its boundaries as practicable, enabling London and Londoners to receive environmental and economic benefits from its management. The Mayor acknowledges that waste contracts do not recognise administrative boundaries and that waste flows across borders. Consequently the aim of his waste policies is to achieve net self-sufficiency for household and commercial waste by 2026. If achieved, this would mean enough sites are identified within London to deal with the equivalent of 100% of the waste apportioned to the boroughs as set out in Table 5.3, regardless of the waste’s origin. PPS10 requires the Mayor to apportion Household and Commercial Waste to each borough (see Table 5.3). PPS10 does not require the Mayor to apportion Construction, Excavation and Demolition Waste, consequently the Mayor has not done so. Hazardous Waste is not an additional waste stream on top of Household and Commercial waste but a subset of these waste streams.

5.67A The Mayor believes that reducing waste, boosting reuse and recycling performance and generating low carbon energy from non-recyclable waste will deliver environmental and economic benefits to London. The Mayor recognises that in the short term waste may be exported outside of London – including Europe – whilst London markets are established. In all cases this should only be considered as an interim option with commercial agreements reflecting the ambition to maximise management of the capital’s waste within its boundaries. Equally, the Mayor encourages the flow of appropriate materials into London where economically beneficial.