Yesterday the Mayor published a consultation document on a “spatial development strategy” for London which covers environmental issues from transport through to waste disposal and recycling. The document stated:
“There is undoubtedly a growing awareness of the health and environmental hazards caused by traditional waste disposal.
The document, called “Towards the London Plan” went on to say that the plan will set the framework for “the Mayor's waste strategy by seeking to ensure that waste in the future is dealt with by the most sustainable means. Priority will be placed on waste minimisation, composting and recycling and a presumption against increased incinerator capacity.”
Today the GLA members through the Labour-controlled environment committee issued a stinging statement attacking the Mayor's consultation document and the work put into it by his advisor Darren Johnson.
Samantha Heath, chair of the committee, said: “Considering that it has taken 11 months to produce this document, the results are extremely disappointing. It has little substance and there is no reference at all to education or skill development and the principles imply the Mayor would accept incineration as a legitimate way to dispose of London's waste which is a major environmental concern.”
Exactly how Mr Livingstone will implement his plan in conjunction with boroughs who are planning increased incineration is still to be revealed. The complexity of the issue has already forced the delay of the Mayor's waste strategy which is now due for publication in the middle of June.
Edmonton
Meanwhile, the government is still to announce whether or not it is to give permission to LondonWaste – jointly owned by SITA and some north London boroughs – to increase the capacity of its Edmonton incinerator which currently burns 500,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of household and commercial waste. The company wishes to build an additional new incinerator and so increase capacity by 60% to 800,000 tpa and the Department of Trade and Industry is expected to put the decision on the backburner until after the General Election.
Last year Greenpeace protesters occupied the Edmonton site and a court case seeking damages by LondonWaste from Greenpeace starts at the end of the month.
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