City chiefs launch waste ‘dating agency’

"Tall, dark and handsome waste contractors with a GSOH" can now use a special service to seek the London borough of their dreams "for friendship and maybe more".


Although the parties involved are unlikely to use the phrases so often seen in newspaper personal ads, organisations and businesses dealing with the capital’s waste will now be able to use a “dating agency” to find each other.

The London Waste and Recycling Board has announced that it has set up the brokerage service to link up waste producers with site owners, London boroughs and energy users in a bid to find new sites for reuse, recycling and energy from waste facilities.

The service, which will be staffed and funded by the board, aims to cut the red tape and paperwork for organisations, and provide them with expertise, funds and contacts.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said; “This fantastic waste “dating agency” will be vital for anyone who has a great idea for getting energy from our waste or recycling our rubbish.

“They won’t have to wade through endless bureaucracy but can get the expertise and help they need.”

Board member Councillor Daniel Moylan, the deputy leader of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said: “This sort of strategic planning is exactly why London Councils proposed the creation of the London Waste and Recycling Board. The board’s role is to make things work better.”

Earlier this month, it announced details of its first business plan, with a budget of £37m committed for the coming financial year to focusing on recycling priority materials such as plastic, and extracting energy from food waste and waste wood (see related story).

The board said it is keen to work with waste producers, processors and end users of waste, and is asking for expressions of interest from businesses by April 1.

Kate Martin

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