Draft Business Waste Strategy PDF - london.gov.uk - Greater ...

Making waste work in London The Mayor’s Draft Business Waste Management Strategy Mayor of London 61
particularly in senior roles and especially within BAME communities
other than black and Asian communities.
3.107 There is an opportunity to work with minority groups to promote the
different workforces in London and specifically what the waste and
environmental industries have to offer. The London Environmental
Support Service, as part of its role to disseminate best practice, could
be a conduit, for example by promoting successful, diverse businesses
in case study format.
3.108 In May 2007, the government announced 139 the development of a joint
industry regulator and skills council training plan to improve levels of
competency within the waste sector and a strategy to address any skill
shortages or gaps. For example, ensuring enough graduates are entering
the industry, sufficient specialists are available and that there is an
appropriate level of training and competence within the industry.
3.109 As part of a package of powers announced by the government in July
2006 140 , the Mayor is chairing a new London Skills and Employment
Board that will develop a strategy for adult skills and employment
in London. To complement and deliver the government’s joint training
plan 141 in London, a clear opportunity for the London Skills and
Employment Board could be to address the issue of green industry
skills and ensure that the opportunities for the equality target groups
to benefit from the job creation aspects of this strategy are facilitated
and promoted.
Financing the development of infrastructure
3.110 The private sector has identified that waste technologies offer a good
investment in light of rising landfill tax and the Landfill Allowance Trading
Scheme. Local authority contracts offer lower risk (long-term, constant
waste streams) compared to private (business waste) contracts that tend
to be short-term with fluctuating waste quantities.
3.111 London Remade’s ‘Leave no Footprint’ project aims to expand London’s
recycling capacity by matching investors with investment opportunities
in waste and recycling. It will provide support to those bringing recycling
and reprocessing infrastructure to London.
3.112 Without the development of new waste facilities and associated
infrastructure, London will not meet the London Plan self-sufficiency
targets or realise the economic opportunities of reprocessing recycled
materials and creating energy.