Although a high level of diversion of waste from landfill has been achieved by the borough council by using energy-from-waste incineration, inspectors said that the borough collects relatively high levels of waste, while the level of collected waste being recycled is low. The amount of fly-tipped waste was also marked out for concern.
The inspectors' report gave the council a one-star rating out of a possible three, describing its prospects for improvement as 'uncertain'.
Commenting on their findings, managing inspector of the London Region Inspection Service Claire Bryce-Smith said: “The council collects a relatively high level of waste compared to other London boroughs, most of which is disposed of by incineration, avoiding the use of landfill sites. However, the levels of waste collected need to be reduced and levels of recycling increased in order to meet government targets.”
 Inspectors thought the amount of dumped waste was cause for concern, such as here at Deptford Cross |
She added: “Lewisham must develop a coherent and integrated strategy to deliver improved waste management services to users and meet the targets set by government.”
The Labour-controlled borough sees rubbish collected from around 110,000 households and 3,000 businesses. Its recycling facilities include the kerbside collection of paper and card for 60,000 households and 52 bring bank sites for a range of dry materials.
The majority of non-recycled collected wastes (103,000 tonnes in 2001/02 and 121,349 tonnes 2001/2002) are disposed of at the South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) plant under a 30-year contract that runs until 2023, with some fly-tipped or bulky household waste going to landfill (18,548 tonnes in 2001/02).
In their report, the Audit Commission inspectors said that Lewisham Borough Council needed to prepare an integrated waste management strategy and recycling plan that would address education and enforcement issues. Inspectors also recommended reviewing contract arrangements and partnerships for waste disposal and recycling.
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