Waste Strategy 2011-2031

Over the last two years we have been devising a waste strategy to increase recycling, tackle the amount of waste we produce and reduce the growing costs for the collection and disposal of the borough’s waste.

In producing the strategy, we consulted with residents, community groups and our waste contractor Veolia. It was formally agreed in November 2010 and comes into effect from 4 April 2011. As a result there will be some changes to our refuse and recycling services.

You can download a copy of the waste strategy and the supporting documents.

Service changes

We will be delivering more detailed information to all residents about the changes to our services. However, a summary of the key actions and changes are as follows.

• Compulsory recycling of household waste.
• Garden waste collection will become a subscription-based service.
• Bulky waste collection will be charged.
• Introduction of a new reuse service for furniture and appliances.
• Introduction of a full recycling service for all businesses and commercial premises.
• Mixed plastics will be accepted in recycling collections.
• Installation of new collection banks across the borough for small electrical items.
• Introduction of a charge for replacement wheeled bins
• A waste prevention plan that includes initiatives such as a voucher scheme to promote washable nappies, low-cost compost bins, advice on community composting and reducing unwanted mail.

In addition, we will also be trialling a number of small initiatives tailored to local circumstances in specific areas. Through understanding the local needs in those areas, we aim to improve our service provision to reduce waste and costs.

Waste disposal

The strategy only covers recycling and rubbish collection services. The treatment and disposal of the borough’s waste is the responsibility of Western Riverside Waste Authority (WRWA). Through their contract with Cory Environmental, they treat and dispose of waste from four London boroughs; Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.

Key changes and improvements that are to be made to our waste disposal include the following. 

• A new recycling facility at Smugglers Way in Wandsworth, which opened in December 2010. The state-of-the-art centre will sort our recyclables into high quality materials ready to be recycled into new goods. It also features an educational space at the heart of the facility.
• The existing civic amenity site at Smugglers Way will be redesigned to create a new reuse and recycling facility. The site is due for completion in late 2011 and will provide improved queuing capacity, roof cover, a more user-friendly layout and increased opportunities for reuse and recycling
• A new energy-from-waste facility at Belvedere, on the edge of the Thames, will be opened in May 2011. All our non-recyclable rubbish will be taken here to be burnt to generate electricity for the National Grid. All the metals that were in the rubbish will be recycled and the left-over ash will also be recycled into a range of aggregate products, such as concrete blocks. Environmentally-friendly ways to use the heat generated at the facility are also being explored.

The council has to pay WRWA by the tonne, for every tonne of waste they dispose of for us. In addition, each type of waste has a different cost attached to it. The cost for recyclable waste is almost half of the cost for general waste, therefore the more we can recycle as a borough the more money we can save.

The waste strategy aims to save £600,000 each year on waste disposal through preventing and recycling even more of our waste. This could help to protect other vital services and lessen the impact of cuts during a challenging financial period.

Incinerator bottom ash

Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) is the residue that falls through the grate after the energy has been recovered from the waste. It often contains valuable materials such as glass, rubble and metals that once extracted can be recycled.

Find out more about IBA and how it is sorted and used in our Incinerator Bottom Ash report.