London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

4.84. All of the consultees consider that London does not currently have the capacity to treat
and dispose of the majority of its own waste. The main barrier to this is perceived to
relate to planning issues for waste management and disposal sites. Companies
expressed unwillingness to invest in the promotion of new waste management facilities
within the city due to the financial risks involved and the uncertain outcome of planning
decisions based on the public’s perception of waste management sites. A significant
change was not expected with regard to this issue unless there is an amendment to the
UK planning regulations.
4.85. It is recognised that whilst the public sector has the responsibility for ensuring that
sufficient provision is made for the management of municipal waste, the treatment and
disposal of commercial and industrial waste is largely provided by the private sector. At
present the private waste management sector appears to be adopting a very cautious
approach to the investment in new facilities. This is largely due to concerns about the
planning process combined with uncertainties over the impact of future regulations and
the recyclates market.
4.86. One consultee quoted that there was a tendency for persons ‘outside of the industry’ to
refer to ‘innovative technologies’ as a solution to London’s waste problems, without
having sufficient knowledge of the financial and planning issues that had to be
addressed to bring such plants on stream. It was emphasised that this required
significant up-front investment over several years to pilot technologies without
necessarily the security of knowing whether there will be a sufficient market for the
technology (due to the need of securing future contracts) and whether they will actually
be able to establish the plant at all due to planning issues. As a part of Defra's Waste
Implementation Programme, two funding programmes are being launched to encourage
the take up of new technologies in the treatment of biodegradable municipal solid
waste. The Technology Research & Innovation Fund (TRIF), which is currently at the
Expression of Interest stage, will allocate around £2m to address the current lack of
funding for R&D projects into new technologies.
4.87. Many of the waste management companies commented that, in general, residents and
business do not want waste management facilities located in their neighbourhood. All
also commented that the planning system is very difficult for them to successfully get
developments through and is prohibitive to the development of new waste management
facilities in and around London. In general, companies may well be trying to plan ahead
by five years or more to take into account the timescale for the planning system. Even
for a non-contentious site, they expect two to three years. It is a major issue for them
to plan ahead by such a large timescale, especially as this may be outside of the
timescale for new legislation and it is difficult to identify what types of contracts may be
in place in the medium term and, hence, what return on investment there may be.
4.88. Overall, consultee’s comments suggest that the planning system is not delivering the
conditions necessary for the development of waste management facilities by the private
sector. One consultee also suggested that planning inquiries were likely to find against
development for certain types of technology, such as incineration, as there was a
tendency to side with public opinion and pressure groups rather than taking due
account of scientific evidence.
4.89. One of the waste management companies thought that both the “top-down” and
“bottom-up” approaches were required to initiate change in the industry. They
commented that the government and the GLA should put in place incentives and
regulation to promote sustainable waste management practices. Further, it was
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