Investigation launched into what London does with its waste

The Environment Committee of the London Assembly has launched an investigation into waste management in London. Among other things, the wide ranging study will look into the role played by energy from waste facilities in the British capital.

With a population of 8.674 million making it one of the biggest cities in Europe, London generates a huge amount of waste – local authorities collecting 3.7 billion tonnes of it in 2015/16. Since the year 2000 landfill in London has reduced significantly, but the introduction to the new investigation points out that waste reduction and recycling have started to stagnate. Waste redirected from landfill is increasingly being incinerated.

The investigation will focus on three areas: waste reduction and the circular economy, recycling, and energy from waste. The role of energy from waste plants (incinerators and others) in managing residual waste will be one of the key considerations.

Created with the intention of ‘holding the city’s mayor to account’, the London Assembly also investigates issues relating to the city and its population, looking to influence policy development as well. It has the ability to push for changes to national, Mayoral or local policy.

The Environment Committee investigation will build on earlier work by the London Assembly in relation to waste management, and seek to identify recommendations for the Mayor and other policy makers in the city. It is welcoming contributions from members of the public, local authorities, private waste management companies and other stakeholders as part of its evidence gathering in the investigation.