This is among the headline figures in a report published today (21 September) by the London Assembly Environment Committee, in which the Mayor is urged to take a ‘visible lead’ in pushing a circular economy within the capital.
According to the report, London’s local authorities handled a total of 3.7 million tonnes of waste in 2016. However, if population growth keeps pace with expectations, which suggest that the capital will swell from a population of around 7.8 million to between 10 and 13 million over the next three decades, the volume of waste produced in the city is likely to grow.
The Committee has claimed that London’s authorities may need to handle an extra 1 million tonnes of waste per year before 2040, equal to an additional 500,000 refuse trucks of waste per year.
Change
Environment Committee Chair, Leonie Cooper AM, said: “The way we deal with waste in London needs to change. Recycling rates have fallen, the population continues to grow, and landfill space is quickly running out.
“We acknowledge the importance of the Route Map produced by the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and we’re delighted to see importance given to the circular economy in the Mayor’s Draft Environment Strategy. Clearly we are in the early stages of change. This is further demonstrated by the growing popularity of innovative recycling websites and apps. The potential for new jobs is enormous.
“Where we go from here, however, is crucial. The Mayor needs to take a visible lead in pushing the circular economy forward. This should start with ensuring that organisations in the GLA Group procure goods and services in line with its principles. The Mayor should set a whole-city vision which includes specific milestones towards growing the circular economy. Awareness also needs to be vastly improved among London’s businesses and an outreach programme led by the Mayor would address these issues.”
Last month the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan launched his environment strategy, which has pushed back the deadline of the capital’s 50% recycling target to 2025 (see letsrecycle.com story). The strategy calls for a target of 20% reduction in food and drink waste per person by 2025 with a focus on cutting single use plastic bottles and drink cups.
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