^{Date:              1 July 2008
Embargo:       None}

Business Waste Strategy for London

ESA responded to a consultation by the office of the Mayor of London on a draft strategy for the waste produced by London’s businesses and institutions, which produce three-quarters (13.8 million tonnes) of London’s waste.

ESA generally supports the stated principles behind the strategy and the focus on climate change and the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions from the waste management sector, noting that the industry in the UK is committed to do more and is looking to develop comprehensive and robust monitoring and reporting of the greenhouse gases arising from all the industry’s activities.

ESA also noted that the landfill tax escalator, which is increasing at £8 per annum, is now starting to influence behaviour and has helped to make separate collection of recyclates from small businesses economically competitive. ESA expressed concern that the previous incumbent had placed a negative emphasis on some treatment methods and suggested that the Mayor should now focus on a technology-neutral approach towards improving London’s business waste performance.

ESA also used the opportunity to signal to the incoming mayor a strong desire to see more effective action against environmental crime. With increasingly stringent legal requirements raising the cost of waste management services, the incentive to fly tip will correspondingly rise. ESA argued that the Environment Agency is underfunded for its role in policing environmental crime and additional support for the Agency in London would be beneficial.

ENDS