London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

Appendix D: Results of Further Analysis of C&I Compositional Data
Commercial Wastes
As described in the C&I chapter, the SWMAL report estimates that 4.35 million tonnes of
London’s waste is of commercial origin. This comprises six sectors, i.e. wholesale, retail, hotels
and catering, finance, education, and other business and public administration. Across these six
sectors, a total of 81% (3.5 million tonnes) of the wastes are described as ‘general and
biodegradable’ which indicates that there is little data about their composition. Of the
remainder of the commercial waste streams, the SWMAL estimates that 10% (454,000 tonnes)
is paper and card, 2.6% (114,000 tonnes) is contaminated general, 2% (86,000 tonnes) is
metals and scrap equipment, 1.4% (61,000 tonnes) is food, another 1.4% is chemical and other
wastes, 1.1% is inert and construction and demolition wastes, and 0.09% (4,000 tonnes) are
mineral wastes and residues.
We have used the compositional data from the SWAP report (City of Westminster Waste
Analysis, SWAP, April 2001) (detailed in the C&I chapter) to try and reduce the uncertainties
caused by the large amount of waste described as general in the commercial waste stream in
the SWMAL. This was done by applying the percentage compositions from the SWAP report for
each of the three sectors surveyed (retail, hospitality and office) to the total tonnages for each
of the relevant sectors in the SWMAL. These are described sector by sector below.
The estimated composition of retail wastes for London based on the application of the SWAP
report is presented in Table D1 below. From this table it can be seen that over 600,000 tonnes
of the total waste stream of nearly one million tonnes are estimated to be paper and cardboard
wastes, of which over 530,000 tonnes are expected to be potentially recyclable. Of the other
major element of this waste stream, some 65,000 tonnes of the 120,000 tonnes of plastic are
potentially recyclable and 46,000 tonnes of the 83,000 tonnes of putrescible wastes are
likewise potentially recyclable (i.e. compostable).
Table D1: Estimated composition of retail wastes
Total Recyclable Non-Recyclable
% Tonnes % Tonnes % Tonnes
Paper 27 250.8 20.3 188.6 7.2 66.9
Cardboard 40 371.6 37 34.4 3.6 33.4
Glass 3 27.9 2.9 26.9 0.2 1.9
Plastic 24 120.8 7 65 5.9 54.8
Ferrous metals 2 9.3 0.3 2.8 0.3 2.8
Non-ferrous
metals
2 9.3 0.5 4.6 0.1 0.9
Putrescible 9 83.6 5 4.6 4.2 39
Textiles 2 18.6 0 0 2 18.6
Miscellaneous
combustible
2 18.6 0 0 2.1 19.5
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