Request for details of information removed when NLWA's new website was created and reasons for this

1. NLWA Response

1. This request is being handled under the Environmental Information Regulations (EiR) 2004 and has been allocated the reference number 2020-80[1] and we respond as follows:

2. The decision to merge NLWA’s previous corporate website nlwa.gov.uk and the consumer-facing website wiseuptowaste.org.uk was made in order to improve the user experience for north London residents. Previously we had three websites, the two above and the North London Heat and Power Project (NLHPP) website at northlondonheatandpower.london. With an increasing amount of content on the NLHPP website and the corporate and wiseuptowaste website looking increasingly out-dated we decided it was best to merge the two NLWA sites. By creating an updated corporate website with a more generic photographic style and a new ‘campaigns’ section  we also aimed to give ourselves more opportunties to link to pan-London and national recycling campaigns to potentially create greater impact. An example of this is our work supporting London Repair Week. 

3. The new website was created following extensive audience research.  

4. You have requested all correspondence regarding content decisions and copies of all documents that are no longer available on the new website.

5. In terms of the documents that have been removed these are as follows:

• All documents that are no longer consistent with our retention period – We no longer hold copies of these documents, so they are not available for issue and accordingly this response acts as a refusal notice under the EiR for any such documents.
• Press releases prior to 2016.
• Authority meetings’ reports before June 2016.
• Consultation responses submitted before 2016
• Details of events and campaigns that took place before 2020 e.g. the agenda for the Waste Prevention Exchange conference in 2018.
• Although some of our publications in the old Wise Up To Waste branding are still  available on the new website in the ‘campaigns’ section e.g. the North London Food Lovers’ Cookbook  is still available and some of the recipe cards  e.g.  the potato and veggie hash recipe card is still available on the ‘Save Your Spuds’ campaign page; we have generally removed all our previous publications. We are no longer printing these documents so they are no longer on our website. Replacement publications will be available in due course e.g. we have created a new food waste booklet which includes tips on how to reduce food waste as well as some recipes. This booklet replaces the previously separate cookbook and food waste leaflet.

6. Documents had been previously added to both our corporate and Wise Up To Waste websites from commencement to 2020. This resulted in two websites which were difficult to navigate and find what you were looking for.  Generally we have reduced the volume of documents on the new website by setting a cut-off date for when documents are removed, rather than removing types of information. This decision has had the effect of reducing the volume of information on the new website compared to the previous two.

7. In terms of content decisions about the new website I attach a copy of some early analysis and proposals about the content of the new website which may be helpful. Work on the website started in 2017 so we have information about content decisions for the period 2017 - 2020.

8. We will provide the information you have requested. However, as permitted under the Environmental Information Regulations we will make a reasonable charge. 

9. If you can provide more detail about the required information, for example:

• if you are interested in receiving specific types of information as set out in paragraph 2.5,
• or would like details of content discussions for a specific year,

we can calculate the time and cost and check back with you before starting the work.

10. I realise that this response does not fully answer your request, but I hope the rationale for our response is understandable, proportionate and reasonable.