Mayor issues first ever direction to waste authority

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has issued a direction for the first time since his election in 2000 to ensure that London's waste management is improving.


The direction was issued to West London Waste Authority (WLWA) under section 356 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, and requires the recipient to produce a strategy that takes into account both the public view of and the environmental impact on any further waste treatment services they use.

“West London Waste Authority must ensure that they manage their waste in a sustainable way,” Mr Livingstone stated. “Therefore I am requiring that they carry out an assessment of environmental options and that they produce a waste management strategy that is both good for London and its neighbours.”

The direction requires that WLWA completes a Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) assessment for the treatment and disposal of municipal waste and produces a joint municipal waste strategy.

This means that the authority is now not able to enter into any further waste contracts until the Mayor is convinced that the selected services are in the best interests of London, its environment and its surrounding areas.

Mr Livingstone said it was vital that London took responsibility for its waste and disposed of it properly, and by issuing the direction to WLWA he could be assured that it was considering the environment when arranging waste management contracts.

A spokesman for WLWA said that they were not able to comment on the issue at this stage.

By Jane Kettle

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