The strategy is seen as likely to reflect waste proposals outlined in planning documents from the Mayor's office. These note that the generally prevailing current system of weekly collections of mixed waste, which is then incinerated or taken to landfill sites in South East counties, is unsustainable.
The waste plan is expected to support the hierarchy principle, given in the planning document s one which applies to the disposal of waste, states and that waste should be treated in accordance with the following hierarchy: reduce, re-use, recover (recycle,
compost, convert to energy), landfill.
Currently, London only recycles about 7% of its municipal waste, so a considerable effort will be needed to increase this over the coming 15-20 years. The main emphasis of the Waste Strategy will be on expanding the collection of household recyclables, composting and civic amenity sites.
The Mayor's current policy on planning notes the “proximity principle” which states that waste should be collected, re-
processed and disposed of as close as possible to where it is produced, in
order to reduce transportation. If waste does need to be transported (ie
for reprocessing) it should be transported by the most environmentally
friendly means, preferably by water or rail. The strategy will support
the principle of proximity, in particular “by safeguarding the essential rail
and water infrastructure needed to transport waste”.
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