The budget for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 to manage the household waste and recycling produced by two million north London residents was approved yesterday by the members of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA).
The total budget for 2026–27 is £101.6 million, but as NLWA is applying income and balances to reduce costs, the levy for north London’s boroughs will be £83.3 million. The levy includes bringing Barrowell Green Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) into NLWA’s extensive network.
A balance of £4.6 million from the previous year – due to a forecasted 5.2% decrease in the volumes of bin bag waste and a 2.8% increase in recycling during 2025–26 – will be used to reduce the cost of services.
NLWA Chair, Cllr Clyde Loakes, pointed out that NLWA’s education and circular economy initiatives were clearly helping to reduce waste volumes and increase recycling rates. “This budget includes funding for a new secondary schools programme, a taskforce to reduce recycling contamination, as well as an expanded electrical goods repair voucher scheme – initiatives which will benefit our residents as well as the environment,” Cllr Loakes said.
None of the initiatives will increase the levy paid by boroughs. NLWA will receive £13.5 million in Extended Producer Responsibility funding this year (where businesses pay towards the cost of disposing of their goods’ packaging), with £1.7 million allocated for circular economy initiatives and the remainder used to reduce the levy.
The budget also includes the costs for a full year of operations to run new facilities at Edmonton EcoPark, as well as funds to enable LondonEnergy to maintain the current energy‑from‑waste plant.
At zero cost to residents, three reuse shops selling pre‑loved items will help prevent unnecessary waste. This includes the existing shops at Barrowell Green RRC in Enfield and Kings Road RRC in Waltham Forest, and a new shop dedicated to selling pre‑loved, safety‑tested electrical items at Edmonton EcoPark, which will open later this year. The income generated pays for staff and overheads.
Cllr Loakes said: “NLWA is investing in programmes that deliver real environmental progress – reducing waste, supporting reuse and repair, and helping residents recycle more. With the expansion of our education work and new facilities at Edmonton EcoPark, we are continuing to build a more sustainable, lower‑waste future for our seven boroughs.”
