Newham plans for ‘crucial’ period before end of Renewi deal

Via the East London Waste Partnership (ELWA), Newham’s waste is processed by Renewi through a PFI integrated waste management contract signed in 2002.

The in 2022/23 annual levy for ELWA  —which also includes Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge —was £72 million, which included a £6 million hit due to rises in inflation.

However, the contract is likely come to an end in 2027. In September 2023, ELWA said it would ‘disaggregate’ the contract from 2027 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The following month, Renewi said it is “actively exploring a range of options” to exit the UK, with an outcome targeted during the first half of 2024, as it seeks to increase shareholder value amidst talk of a takeover (see letsrecycle.com story).

Waste plan

Newham explained that the next four years while the contract expires will be “crucial” for positioning its services for a “seamless transition to the new disposal contract”.

Part of the measures include collaborating with East London local authorities to achieve a minimum joint reuse, recycling, and composting performance of 35% by 2030, up from the 25.6% it recorded for 2022/23.

To comply with Simpler Recycling, the council said it will be required to add cartons and to collect plastic film for recycling by the end of 2026/27 and provide a weekly food waste collection service to all
properties across the borough.

‘Priority’

Councillor James Asser, cabinet member for environment and sustainable transport, said: “Improving the way we manage waste and increase our recycling rates remains an important priority.

“Over the last six years we’ve increased recycling rates from around 16% to 25.6%, and have since introduced weekly recycling which should boost this even further.

“Progress has also been made on tackling fly-tipping with reports dropping by almost a third in the last year according Government figures; the second biggest improvement in London. These figures represent a real victory for our residents who want to see our streets cleaner, safer and more pleasant and are supporting work to make Newham a cleaner borough.

“We still have lots of work to do and challenges that to face, but the new strategy is a comprehensive roadmap that will allow us to tackle these issues and gets Newham ready for the new waste contract in 2027.”