London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

clearer guidance on WEEE, it will be possible to suggest the likely implications these
changes will have on London specifically.
Options for Specific Measures
6.86. The increasing complexity of the hazardous waste industry and the management of
hazardous materials, in addition to the urgent need for treatment facilities to ensure
compliance with the EC Directives, is expected to raise the costs of managing hazardous
waste. The increase in costs may promote waste minimisation; however it may also
generate an increase in illegal handling of wastes and fly tipping, in the short term.
6.87. It appears that many producers are unfamiliar, or unaware of the effects that the change
in the hazardous waste regulations and the effect that hazardous waste classification
may have. Businesses have a legal duty of care to ensure they pass their waste to a
legitimate waste carrier. If their waste is fly tipped, then they could be prosecuted. It is
important that awareness is raised, especially amongst the numerous small and medium
sized enterprises (SMEs) in London (refer Chapter 4 for an overview of London’s
670,000 SME’s). All producers of hazardous waste must be made aware of the future
changes to legislation, and the fact that many more businesses will be considered to be
producers of hazardous waste under the revised EWC.
Recommendation 58: It is recommended that steps are taken to better inform all
waste producers - including the large community of SME’s in London - about
their statutory responsibilities with respect to ‘controlled waste’ in general,
and ‘hazardous waste’ in particular.
6.88. In terms of developing a specific approach for London, it is likely that the three major
sources of hazardous waste arisings in London in the forseeable future, which require
management and treatment are:
• Construction and Demolition Waste and Asbestos.
• Oil and Oil/Water mixtures.
• Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment.
6.89. Since the largest group of hazardous waste arisings in London at present is construction
and demolition and asbestos waste, and from July 2004, there are unlikely to be any
disposal options within 75 miles of London, a key element of any strategy should be an
initiative to develop ways to manage this waste within London. Since the majority of
this waste stream comprises contaminated soils, the promotion of in-situ treatment and
on-site ex-situ treatment has the potential to significantly reduce waste movements and
disposal. Although such treatments are not favoured in the UK at present, they may be
the only sustainable and viable approach in the future. Alternatively, a number of
centralised facilities within London (e.g. at former landfill sites) that are capable of
accepting these wastes for processing could be established. Minimising the movement
of spoil from contaminated land would contribute to resolving a major problem in
London after July 2004.
Recommendation 59: It is recommended that a strategy is developed to manage
contaminated soil from construction and demolition works in London, as a
matter of urgency.
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