Joint Waste Strategy
North London Waste Authority and its seven constituent boroughs play an important part in addressing the climate emergency on behalf of two million Londoners.
Reducing waste is a team effort, including manufacturers, retailers and consumers, but the government must lead the way through the introduction of legislation.
We have a clear ambition to deliver a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for north London. This is underpinned by four priorities:
- To support the reduction in household waste.
- To promote repairing, reusing and recycling where reduction isn’t possible.
- To reduce the environmental impact of disposal where there is no option to reuse or recycle.
- To deliver collaborative, community-focused services which provide value for money, maximise social value and minimise carbon impact.
A Joint Waste Strategy sets our vision for achieving these responsibilities. The last Joint Waste Strategy was published in 2004 and is now out of date.
We are therefore producing a new strategy, fit for the future, with the main goal of promoting the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle as part of a circular economy.
To do this, we spoke to and listened to partners, residents, community groups and local businesses to understand local priorities and aspirations.
We hosted pop-up events in each of our seven constituent boroughs this summer and ran a short survey. Focus groups have been scheduled in order to engage our residents and seek their feedback on the proposed strategy.
What roles are played by NLWA and its constituent boroughs?
Your local council and the NLWA are jointly responsible for waste and recycling in the borough. NLWA has three main responsibilities:
- Managing waste transportation and disposal on behalf of seven north London boroughs
- Managing recycling collected by our seven boroughs
- Promoting waste minimisation and recycling to preserve resources
Your local Council has responsibilities for collecting the waste and recycling from residents (and some businesses) in their area.
Our aim is to preserve the resources and the environment today and for future generations. We are committed to innovation and careful planning to ensure we manage waste resources effectively and sustainably.
We work with residents, schools and businesses to promote waste minimisation and recycling to preserve resources and reduce the amount of waste that has to be disposed of.
How do NLWA and the constituent boroughs actively reduce waste?
NLWA and our seven constituent boroughs are responsible for providing waste and recycling services. We aim to provide services that achieve our waste reduction aim through the following actions:
- We work with residents, schools and businesses to promote waste minimisation (e.g. using leftover food in meal planning, buying items with less packaging);
- promoting repair and reuse of unwanted or broken items;
- recycling more things,
- Reducing the environmental impact of disposal where there is no option to reuse or recycle.
Ultimately, however, we also need other organisations and individuals to play a role in reducing waste.
Which other groups will need to work together to reduce waste?
Reducing waste is a team effort including the government, manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and of course the Councils and NLWA are involved. Government must lead the way through the introduction of legislation in collaboration with these other groups.
Manufacturers can develop their products in ‘greener’ ways, helping reduce waste and making items last longer or be more easily repaired when broken.
As individuals, each of us make choices about what we buy and what we do with things when they are broken, unwanted or are considered rubbish to be thrown away. Often items can be repaired or reused, recycled or composted to avoid disposal.
What will the new Joint Waste Strategy attempt to achieve?
As part of the government’s target to reduce residual waste by 50%, our primary goal is to reduce the amount of waste that is burnt or put into landfill. In order to achieve this primary goal, we also aim to do the following:
- To support the reduction in household waste.
- To promote repairing, reusing and recycling where reduction isn’t possible.
- To reduce the environmental impact of disposal where there is no option to reuse or recycle.
- To provide collaborative, resident-focused services which provide value for money as well as the best social and carbon value.
When will the new Joint Waste Strategy be implemented?
A draft report will be shared in Spring 2024 with publication expected later that year.
The Waste Prevention Plan
For over ten years, NLWA has delivered an ambitious programme of waste prevention projects, schemes and campaigns. Read about the current Waste Prevention Plan covering 2022-25 on our page, Preserving Resources, Driving Change. It includes waste prevention activity and communications work delivered by NLWA to reduce the level of recycling contamination and increase recycling, supporting on-the-ground activity delivered by the constituent boroughs. The Plan delivers some of the activities included within borough Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) required by the Mayor of the London. You can also see our previous plan, Residual Waste Reduction Plan 2021-22.