London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

4.167. Rail transport is dependent upon the availability of an adequate number of railcars and
containers in addition to the ability of the rail network to collect and move the waste in
a timely manner. Long delays before departure or on route can result in odour
problems.
4.168. The West London Waste Authority have successfully transported wastes by rail since
1977, and currently use this form of transport for up to 75% of the total wastes they
send for disposal. Wastes are transported from Hillingdon rail transfer station to the
Shanks landfill site at Calvert on a nightly basis. The North London Waste Authority
also receives a daily rail transport service from the transfer station at Hendon to
Stewartby landfill site, also operated by Shanks. This service, from Hendon to the
landfill site and back, removes 192 long-distance lorries from the roads each day, thus
reducing congestion and pollution from haulage vehicles. It is understood that similar
arrangements are about to commence in East London through a long-term waste
disposal contract with Shanks.
4.169. Barriers to collection and transport systems vary with the type of waste. For most C&I
wastes the need for engagement of businesses and their staff, source separation and
collections from many dispersed sites can deter provision and participation. For organic
wastes additional barriers include the need for source separation, hygiene control
mechanisms and frequent collections. For hazardous wastes additional safety and
environmental considerations apply to storage and transport.
Reprocessing
4.170. The reprocessing sector is dominated by large reprocessors receiving municipal materials
and waste materials from construction and manufacturing businesses. There is also
some SME involvement, which is being actively promoted by WRAP, the LDA and
London Remade. The Government’s Best Value targets are the main driver of the
supply of municipal recyclables (mostly household) and have led to establishment of
facilities largely dedicated to this purpose. These are also suitable for many C&I wastes
but at present the capacity does not exist to take large amounts of additional material.
The availability of long-term supply contracts from Waste Management Authorities
encourages the establishment of reprocessing facilities for the municipal waste stream.
By contrast, there is less certainty of supply for recyclables from businesses, who are
price-sensitive and generally unwilling to commit to the length of contract required to
cover investment cycles for reprocessing plants.
Recommendation 21: In order to help to overcome the critical shortfall in investment
in reprocessing facilities in London that results from the lack of certainty of
contracts for the supply of recyclable business waste (as distinct from the
availability of long-term MSW contracts), it is recommended that the GLA – in
conjunction with London ReMade and the LDA – should investigate ways of
encouraging large waste producers to enter into long-term recycling contracts,
for example as an extension of the Green Procurement Code, or by
underwriting supply contracts.
4.171. London Remade has assisted in the establishment of several eco-sites for materials
separation and/or reprocessing and product development Table 4.10). These have a
strong emphasis on educational facilities and programmes so that they stimulate wider
awareness of what is possible.
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