LWARB and WRAP ally to help London reach 50% recycling target

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and WRAP will team up to deliver a programme helping London local authorities reach the Mayor of London's 50% recycling target by 2020.


Reaching this target in London would make a major contribution towards the UK as a whole achieving its 50% household waste recycling target by the same date.

LWARB chief operating officer Wayne Hubbard said: “The partnership promises to deliver a one agency approach for London boroughs providing specific and focused support at a regional and local level.”

The alliance will build upon LWARB’s current Efficiencies Programme which it estimates will deliver £10m of savings per year from 2016.

LWARB and WRAP’s programe, to be operational from April 2015, will: deliver efficient waste management services throughout London; increase the recycling performance of London boroughs; make sure boroughs can recover high quality recycling and make the most of the income generated from that material; help boroughs generate more value from their waste management services; and promote waste prevention and re-use.

Recycle rates

LWARB assembly member and chair Richard Tracey said: “With 8.5 million people living in London now and a predicted nine million by 2020, we are seeking the most efficient way of supporting London Boroughs and properly engaging the public to drive up recycle rates.”

In February, LWARB awarded £1.2m in grants to 17 London boroughs towards projects to provide new or improved recycling facilities to over one million households, diverting approximately 60,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and incineration over the first four years.

In 2012 the amount of waste recycled accounted for 41.8% of all municipal waste, exceeding that sent to landfill (37.4%) for the first time.

In July the European Commission unveiled its Circular Economy Package requiring member states to allow a maximum of 25% of waste generated to be sent to landfill by 2025 and 70% of municipal waste and 80% of packaging waste to be recycled by 2030.

Lois Vallely

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