North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) annual report was approved at the AGM on 19 June 2025. It outlines NLWA's performance from April 2024 to March 2025 – including the opening of three major facilities and continued progress in recycling, repair, reuse and waste prevention.
Last year, residents dropped off 7,000 more tonnes of unwanted items at their local reuse and recycling centres compared to 2023/24, the equivalent of nearly 438 London double decker buses. 74% of the 48,874 tonnes brought to RRCs went on to be reused or recycled.
Delving deeper into the contents of the numbers, 200 tonnes of carpets and 102,000 mattresses were brought to our sites for recycling. If we stacked the mattresses all up it would be the height of 82 Shards.
With a 50% rise in polystyrene recycling and a 10% increase in DIY materials for reuse, North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is demonstrating that with the right services and infrastructure, public participation in circular economy initiatives is growing.
Meanwhile, three new facilities opened their doors at the Edmonton EcoPark last year. The new Resource Recovery Facility went into operation in March and can now handle over 300,000 tonnes of material a year. The Edmonton EcoPark RRC also opened, offering level access, shelter from the elements, and the ability to accept more than 25 different types of materials and EcoPark House, our new educational outreach and community hub, welcomed its first visitors in December.
Around 500 school children and community members have already set foot in EcoPark, with the hope being that the facility will continue to inspire the next generation’s environmental behaviours for years to come.
NLWA Chair, Councillor Clyde Loakes MBE, said: “2024/25 has been a landmark year for NLWA, marked by the successful delivery of major new facilities, including our Resource Recovery Facility, the Edmonton Ecopark Reuse and Recycling Centre and EcoPark House, and a continued drive to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling across north London. These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our officers, Members, and constituent boroughs.
“Our draft joint waste strategy makes it clear that whole-system change starts with government and producers. In the past year we have met ministers several times and it is positive that, in contrast to previous administrations, this government is actively seeking our views on how they can bring about a more circular economy.
“We remain focused on delivering environmental and social value – whether through our education programmes, waste prevention activity in the community or innovative recycling services – all with a clear objective in mind: to generate less waste in the first place and tackle climate change.”
Other key achievements from the report include:
- 100% of metals, plastics, and glass were reprocessed in the UK, while all paper and cardboard stayed within Europe and the UK, confirming our strong commitment to local and regional processing.
- NLWA launched the UK’s first electrical repair voucher scheme, investing £100,000 – funded through the North London Community Fund – to help residents extend the life of their appliances and reduce e-waste. This was funded as part of the North London Community Fund.
- Our new outreach programme for primary schools reached over 2,600 pupils and staff, giving us an important platform to engage young people and educators to change environmental behaviours.
Read the 2024/25 annual report.
