Deputy PM intervenes in row over recycling centre sell-off

The London borough of Enfield has sold one of its two recycling centres to housing developer Fairview, but this goes against the London Mayor's policy of protecting the capital's waste processing sites.

” Enfield's short-sighted decision to sell off this site demonstrates the need for a single waste authority in London.“
– Ken Livingstone
Deputy PM John Prescott has now called for a public inquiry concerning the re-development of the Carterhatch Lane site.

The council has said the decision to sell the site was taken on “practical grounds” because its weekly kerbside recycling scheme means its recycling centres are now “underused”. The Carterhatch Lane site is due to close at the end of October.

Enfield member for the environment Cllr Terry Neville said of the site's closure: “This new approach is also more environmentally friendly – instead of thousands of residents making dozens of trips to Carterhatch every year, causing unnecessary pollution, the council will go to you, our resident.”

Despite the reasoning behind the council's decision to sell off the site, the London Mayor wants to see more waste management sites in London, not less. At the end of May this year Mr Livingstone issued a Direction to Enfield requiring the borough to defer the closure of the recycling centre until a replacement recycling centre could be provided in the borough.

Message
The London Mayor today welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister's call for a public inquiry, saying: “It sends a message to all boroughs and private developers that they cannot expect to sell off sites currently used for recycling and recovery of waste without providing appropriate alternative provision.”

Mr Livingstone believes the row over the Carterhatch recycling centre is further proof that the city of London needs all waste management activities governed under a single waste authority (see letsrecycle.com story).

“London needs more recycling facilities if it is to become more self sufficient in the management of waste. Enfield's short-sighted decision to sell off this site demonstrates the need for a single waste authority in London, with the ability to properly plan how we manage waste across the whole of the city,” Mr Livingstone said.