The Board – which manages an investment fund to improve waste management in the capital – has already worked with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) on a number of projects in London such as its Recycle for London Campaign and Efficiencies Programme and in 2013 the two organisations entered into a Memorandum of Understanding.
However, they are now looking to take this one step further by forming a formal partnership to provide more support for local authorities to help them deliver the Mayor of London’s target to recycle 50% of municipal waste by 2020 and also save money. The 50% target is set out in the Mayor’s 2011 Municipal Waste Management Strategy.
Programme
While all details of the partnership are yet to be agreed, it would build upon the current Efficiencies Programme (see letsrecycle.com story) and will be operational from April 2015.
Importantly, it will see a fund set up, comprised of £1.5 million from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and a yet-to-be-agreed amount from WRAP, expected to be around £750,000. The fund will be overseen by a partnership board made up of WRAP and LWARB members alongside key stakeholders, which will deliver a programme of support. Branding for the programme has yet to be agreed.
The work of the partnership will be focussed on:
• delivering consistent and efficient waste management services throughout London;
• increasing the recycling performance of London boroughs;
• ensuring boroughs can recover high quality recycling and maximise the income generated from that material;
• helping boroughs realise and generate more value from their waste management services; and,
• the promotion and encouragement of waste prevention and re-use.
Commenting on the move, Wayne Hubbard, chief operating officer at LWARB, said: “The London Waste and Recycling Board is excited to be exploring a more strategic relationship with WRAP. The partnership promises to deliver a one agency approach for London boroughs providing specific and focused support at a regional and local level.”
Marcus Gover, director at the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), said: “We’re delighted at the prospect of working in a new partnership with LWARB. The proposals are still being developed but we look forward to helping London drive forward its waste management and recycling, both for the benefit of the capital and the wider UK.”
Target
While some London boroughs such as Hillingdon are already recycling around 50% of their waste (see letsrecycle.com story), there are also many other, more deprived boroughs such as Lewisham and Newham, where recycling and composting rates in 2012/13 were languishing around 20%. The London Waste and Recycling Board is hoping that if recycling rates improve, this will not only help to meet the Mayor’s target but also make a “significant contribution” towards meeting the UK’s target to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020.
Richard Tracey, Assembly Member and LWARB chair, said: “With 8.5 million people living in London now and a predicted 9 million by 2020, we are seeking the most efficient way of supporting London boroughs and properly engaging the public to drive up recycle rates.
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