London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

Key policy proposals in ‘Waste Strategy 2000’ (relevant to wider wastes)
• By 2005, to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste landfilled to 85%
of 1998 levels.
• To use the Landfill Tax escalator as the key tool to reduce landfill of waste.
• To develop new and stronger markets for recycled materials through the Waste and
Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
• To promote public procurement of recycled products.
• To introduce producer responsibility initiatives beyond existing packaging initiatives
to include end-of-life vehicles, batteries, and waste electrical and electronic
equipment.
• To affirm the use of Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO), the proximity
principle, and the waste hierarchy.
Key policy proposals in ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ (relevant to wider wastes and
accepted in principle in the Government’s Response)
• Extend voluntary agreements with industry to reduce waste and increase the use of
recycled materials and the recyclability of products.
• Promote public procurement of recycled products.
• Consider the case for applying incentives such as economic instruments to
encourage environmentally-friendly products.
• Promote the use of secondary resources through BSI standards.
• Finalise central Government targets for the use of recycled materials. All
Departments to also have in place a trained Green Procurement Officer.
• Encourage local authorities to establish environmental procurement policies and set
their own targets.
• Encourage the development of quality standards for compost, ensuring in particular
that the needs of the customer are taken fully into account.
• Increase the Landfill Tax to £35 per tonne for active waste, in the medium term.
• Consider, in 2006/07, the case for banning the landfilling or incineration of
recyclable products.
• Provide guidance to magistrates for prosecution of waste crimes.
• Keep the case for an incineration tax under review, so that the rise in landfill tax
does not promote incineration at the expense of all other options.
• Bring together the literature and evidence on the relative health and environmental
effects of all the different waste management options;
• Promote education and awareness of waste issues via the Waste and Resources
Action Programme (WRAP).
• Develop pilots for more innovative waste management practices in partnership with
industry and local authorities.
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