London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

necessary that the waste producers combined together to ensure that such practices
were implemented. This included making the best of a given location. They also
thought that this should include making the best use of civic amenity sites by making
them available for receiving trade wastes. They considered that targets are required for
the recycling of commercial and industrial wastes and was concerned that income from
Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) is not necessarily going back directly into recycling
and that the producer is also not being encouraged to recycle from the PRNs. A real
change is required such that sites and plans are made on a regional basis; an element of
predictability is required regarding certain facilities so that industry and sustainable
waste management facilities can be located together for mutual benefit.
4.90. One consultee indicated that they offered a service to inform clients of their legal
obligations from a waste management perspective. Interestingly, whilst there was
continual demand for this, they had not been as inundated with enquiries regarding
forthcoming legislation to as great an extent as they had anticipated.
Waste Transport by Water
4.91. This section has been informed by consultations with the waste management companies
as well as the Port of London Authority and British Waterways.
River Thames
4.92. The River Thames is ideal for moving wastes as the cargo is not time sensitive and the
barges can carry up to 1,500 tonnes. The Port of London Authority has confirmed that
the majority of the 800,000 tonnes of waste that are currently transported on the river
is municipal wastes. There are four waste transfer stations under their jurisdiction where
containerised wastes can be put onto the river. Three of these are operated by Cory
Environmental. Cory is the only current operator of waste management services on the
river dealing with municipal contracts. Cleanaway own the fourth waste transfer station,
but do not operate water-borne waste services at present as they do not have any
current contracts in place. Nevertheless, we were informed that Cleanaway are
maintaining their jetty, vessels and infrastructure so that they can bid for future
contracts. There are currently two waste transfer stations where waste can be offloaded
for disposal; i.e. Cory’s landfill at Mucking in Essex and Cleawaway’s landfill at
Rainham in Essex.
4.93. There is considerable potential for getting more waste onto the river since the river is
not operating at capacity, except during periods of high traffic from leisure users during
the summer. Also, only the day-time tide is used for waste transport and hence there is
also the opportunity to use the night-time tide, although this is more expensive due to
shift payments. The exception is Cringle Dock where they operate on a 24 hour basis,
which is useful for taking commercial wastes from public houses and restaurants during
the evening and night.
4.94. However, we were informed that the riverside transfer stations were running at close to
capacity and hence provide the main limitation for increased waste transport by water.
Nevertheless, the Port of London Authority wishes to establish another three waste
transfer stations to provide greater and more regular access to the river. It was
confirmed that the Port of London Authority work closely with the Greater London
Authority and it was noted that the Mayor has a great interest in the increased use of
the river for freight transport and that the two organisations are working together to
bring back some of the non-operational wharfs into use (Port of London, Volume 2,
Number 73, January/February 2004).
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