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• Reference: 2001/0232-1
• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

How do you propose to set up effective working partnerships for the implementation of the Mayor's environmental policies? .

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

I wonder if you could tell us how you're proposing to ensure that the boroughs, when they collect recyclable materials, actually have a market for them and they're not left with a large surplus which they have to dispose of themselves?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Mr Duffy, I'm not going to question your professionalism. I presume you are perfectly professional in the job you do and you do it honestly. But you say you give robust advice to the Mayor. Now you saw this paper that we got yesterday from the Mayor's staff, the London Waste Action stakeholder, and it was as I said yesterday a very mature and a very balanced paper. Would you agree with that? Secondly, you have said that you have a presumption against incineration and the Mayor has a presumption against incineration and no doubt, as you said that you...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Except there's nothing more disillusioning for the residents of London who assiduously separate recyclable materials then to discover that those materials are in effect going straight to landfill. For example in the London Borough of Sutton, which turns out in fact to be the pariah of recycling authorities rather than allegedly the angel of recycling authorities, glass which is collected in the London Borough of Sutton goes directly to landfill. It does not pass go and it most definitely doesn't collect £200, and this in the London Borough of Sutton and I suspect over the whole of London is creating...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

What about the general point that I've just made to you about those residents who are very keen to collect recyclable materials, but if they discover that these recyclable materials are not actually being recycled at all how would you suggest that borough councils explain that to their residents?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

So are you suggesting that if there is to be no market for recyclable goods because of perhaps a glut or something, then boroughs should in fact say to their residents, 'Well it's an enormously costly exercise to sort and collect and so on. Just tip it in the ordinary refuse as you would have done before the days of recycling.'

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Will you continue a dialogue with the boroughs, not only with ALG? Because they're going to be in difficulty, you have to appreciate that. The long-term contracts are cheaper and yet you are suggesting that they should have short-term contracts. And of course it's very difficult to get the infrastructure, to get someone to put up all that capital on a three or five year lifespan.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Can I ask you, Mr Duffy, to keep more of an open mind on how we deal with residual waste because I think it's wrong to close off any avenue at this time. Now that's not saying that I'm for incineration, but just keep an open mind as to how it can be disposed of.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Can I ask how long this is going to take, because you know that the local authorities are now hard up against the line that they have to fulfil contracts and they have to sign contracts now. So how long is this going to take? And if I can quote you the first paragraph of this report we saw yesterday, which I thought was an excellent report and I think better than the ones we've been doing, 'There should be no presumption against incineration or against any recovery techniques and there should be a willingness to explore all options in...

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 14 November 2001

Thank you. We were told yesterday that Smugglers Way cost £150 million in today's costing. Can you imagine the cost that's going to be needed and is the Mayor going to explore where these funds are going to come from?