Livingstone calls for 268 new recycling plants for London

The Mayor wants to alter the London Plan so that 45% of the city's municipal waste and 70% of business waste can be recycled, under the umbrella of a single waste authority for London.

” In London, we need to be more self sufficient in the way we manage our waste “
– Ken Livingstone
Hopes are that new technologies will be used to treat London's waste producing renewable energy and help reduce the capital's contribution to climate change.

The new facilities would also help to meet the Mayor’s target that London should manage 85% of its waste within city limits. Currently the majority of London's municipal waste is sent to landfill dumps in the surrounding areas.

The new plants should also create jobs and boost London's “green economy” of recycling and reprocessing industries, the Mayor said, as well as allowing the city to face up to its “environmental responsibilities”.

The proposals are now being considered by the Greater London Assembly and the Greater London Authority Group. But, the mayor is also interested in hearing views from industry, local authority and community organisations on the single waste authority and where new recycling facilities might be located.

Single authority


Mr Livingstone said: “In London, we need to be more self sufficient in the way we manage our waste – currently most of our municipal waste is taken to landfill dumps in areas outside the city, which is completely unacceptable.

“The lack of London-wide government after the abolition of the Greater London Council has hampered the strategic management of London’s municipal waste and now is time for this to change. This is why I want a single waste authority for London able to plan and build these new facilities,” the Mayor said.

The London Plan, the Mayor’s strategy for managing London’s growth over the next 15 to 20 years, was published in February 2004 but pledged a study to bring forward policy on the provision of strategic waste management facilities.

London's waste disposal is currently governed by four waste disposal authorities and 12 unitary boroughs. London's 7.35 million people generate just over 3.3 million tonnes of household waste, with only 13% of it recycled.

It is anticipated the capital’s population will grow by 800,000 people by 2016. Responses to the Mayor's proposals must be received by close of play on September 9.