London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

• Change the way we use resources so that we waste less. This will require us to deal
with waste in a sustainable way, and people and communities to take responsibility
for their waste.
• Reduce the amount of (municipal) waste produced in London.
• Increase the proportion of London’s (municipal) waste being reused.
• Increase the proportion of London’s (municipal) waste being recycled and ensure
recycling facilities are available for all.
• Ensure that waste is managed in such a way as to minimise the impact on the
environment and health.
• Move London towards becoming more self-sufficient in managing its (municipal)
waste within the region, and towards waste being dealt with as close to the place of
production as possible. 4
• Meet the objectives of the National Waste Strategy and Landfill Directive, and other
European Directives, by reducing the amount of London’s biodegradable municipal
waste sent to landfill and reducing the toxicity of waste.
• Increase capacity of, stabilise and diversify the markets for recyclables in London;
including green purchasing and encouraging redesign of goods and services to
increase consumer choice.
• Maximise opportunities to optimise economic development and job creation
opportunities in the waste management and reprocessing sectors, contribute to the
improvement of the local community, and directly or indirectly improve the health of
Londoners.
• Strategically plan waste facilities for London that meet the needs of the Waste
Strategy and enable its implementation.
• Collect and share data and information on municipal waste management in London,
and other places; the identification and dissemination of best practice will help to
improve performance and reduce inefficiencies.
• Minimise the transport of waste by road and maximise the opportunities for the
sustainable use of rail and water.
• Improve the local environment and street scene environment.
The London Plan
2.13. The London Plan also has a key role in relation to the spatial elements of sustainable
waste management. Cross-cutting policies in the London Plan (see boxes below)
emphasise the proximity principle, set overall recycling targets, and indicate (inter alia)
that boroughs should:
• safeguard existing waste management sites;
• identify new sites, and support proposals, for activities such as recycling,
composting, manufacturing based on recycled materials, and recovery from residual
waste;
• ensure that the provisions of BPEO are applied;
4 These targets are quantified in the London Plan (see next section), rising from 75% self-sufficiency in 2010 to
85% in 2020.
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