John Duffy, environmental policy director for the Mayor, said the document to be called the “Wider Waste Strategy” will be launched for consultation later this year.
” The strategy, which is non-statutory will provide guidance to those managing London's wider waste. “
– John Duffy, Mayor's Office
Non-municipal waste – including commercial and industrial waste as well as non-municipal hazardous, construction and demolition waste – makes up three quarters of the waste produced in London.
Every year, London produces more than 6.4 million tonnes of commercial/industrial waste and 6.1 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (2001 figures).
The Mayor has developed a strategy for coping with the annual 4.4 million tonnes of municipal waste – the waste collected by councils. But there has been concern that an emphasis on diverting municipal waste from landfill could be carried out to the detriment of non-municipal waste management.
Guidance
The Wider Waste Strategy would provide non-statutory guidance to help close the gaps in data and understanding relating to non-municipal waste in London.
Mr Duffy said: “The Greater London Authority Act 1999 required the Mayor to prepare a Municipal Waste Management Strategy but municipal waste accounts for barely a quarter of London's total solid waste.
“Therefore the Mayor is preparing a wider-waste strategy, which will be launched for consultation later this year (2006). The strategy, which is non-statutory will provide guidance to those managing London's wider waste. It will support the implementation of the London Plan in relation to wider waste and will promote greater self sufficiency for London in managing wider wastes,” he explained.
Public-private organisation London Waste Action is now inviting London stakeholders to put forward initial thoughts on non-municipal waste management through a dedicated internet site at http://lwa.dialoguebydesign.net/dbyd.asp
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