There are several key players involved in London's waste and recycling sector. This page seeks to clarify the functions and roles of some of these organisations.

Click on the name of the organisation you're interested in, from the list below, to find out more.

• Association of London's Cleansing Officers (ALCO)
• Audit Commission
• Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
• Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Environment Agency
• Government Office for London (GOL)
• Greater London Authority (GLA) and the GLA group
• London Assembly
• London Centre of Excellence (LCE)
• London Community Recycling Network (London CRN)
• London Councils (formerly the Association of London Governments)
• London Development Agency (LDA)
• London Recycling Fund (LRF)
• London Recycling Officers Group (LROG)
• London Remade
• Mayor of London
• Regional Technical Advisory Body (RTAB)
• Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP)
• Waste Watch

Defra’s Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) has been established to help bring about a step change in waste management performance and bridge the ‘delivery deficit’ that exists between policy and action. In particular it is concerned with assisting local authorities in meeting their recycling targets and ensuring the achievement of the legally binding EU Landfill Directive targets.  There are nine WIP programmes: Local Authority Support Local Authority Funding New Technologies Data Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme Efficiencies Waste Minimisation Kerbside Waste Awareness Further information: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/wip/index.htm

 

The Environment Agency (EA) is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. The Environment Agency ensures that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today’s society, so that future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world. With regards to waste the EA regulates waste management through a system of licenses and registers. It monitors people who transport waste and advises on waste management methods including waste minimisation, WEEE and fly tipping. The EA also operates NetRegs: a free website designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK to understand the complex environmental regulations that can affect them. To visit NetRegs click here Further information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

 

The Government Office for London (GOL) represents central government across the capital, delivering policies and programmes for eleven central government departments in a joined up way, and making London’s case in Whitehall. GOL's work includes: leading the negotiation of Local Area Agreements in London ensuring the delivery of the 'Every Child Matters' agenda in London delivering policies on crime reduction andreducing drug misuse planning and neighbourhood renewal. GOL's role within waste is to bring together key stakeholders, influencing what they do to help meet the Government’s waste strategy and interpreting and explaining the Government’s policies. Further information: www.gos.gov.uk/gol

 

The GLA is a unique form of strategic citywide government for London. It is made up of a directly elected Mayor - the Mayor of London - and a separately elected Assembly - the London Assembly. There are around 600 staff to help the Mayor and Assembly in their duties. The Mayor is London's spokesman. He leads the preparation of statutory strategies on transport, spatial development, economic development and the environment. He sets budgets for the GLA, Transport for London, the London Development Agency, the Metropolitan Police Authority and London's fire services.  There is a clear separation of powers within the GLA between the Mayor - who has an executive role, making decisions on behalf of the GLA - and the Assembly, which has a scrutiny role and is responsible for appointing GLA staff. The internal organisation of the GLA takes account of this separation. The GLA's main areas of responsibility are: transport, policing, fire & emergency services, economic development, planning, culture, environment and health. Further information: www.london.gov.uk

 

The London Centre of Excellence (LCE) is one of nine regional centres of excellence created by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in February 2004 to deliver the National Procurement Strategy and the Gershon Review. The LCE will act as a catalyst to help the thirty-two London boroughs, the City of London and the Greater London Authority (GLA) in delivering the efficiency agenda by: Actively promoting and funding collaborative projects that contribute to the successful delivery of the efficiency and service improvement agenda Acting as a strategic catalyst to identify business opportunities for further improvement in terms of immediate cost savings, the better use of existing resources, or more effective market management. Providing sources of up-to-date knowledge and information to every person working in a London Borough through the availability of an on-line information and resources. Developing and delivering management programmes and on-line services that will improve skills and the sharing of knowledge. Lobbying central government departments and agencies, and Europe, on the effective delivery of the efficiency and service improvement agenda. Securing additional funding, where appropriate, from public and private sector bodies to advance the LCE's work and projects. Further information: http://www.lcpe.gov.uk

 

London CRN is a registered charity which is dedicated to: supporting, promoting and representing organisations engaging in community recycling encouraging and assisting local authorities to integrate community recycling into their waste services providing information on London's community recycling activities London CRN works to make community-based sustainable waste management the preferred solution – financially, socially and environmentally – for the people of London. The organisation is working to achieve this though the implementation of the following projects: Procuring Social Enterprise Composting Network  Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) London Furniture Reuse Network Further information: www.lcrn.org.uk

 

London Councils is the new name for the Association of London Governments (ALG). London Councils speaks up for Londoners, and their local councils. Work falls into four areas: making the case for London, fighting for adequate resources and powers so that member councils can do the best job they can leading the debate on key issues, developing policies and influencing Government thinking to benefit Londoners spreading good practice and generally helping boroughs to improve the services they deliver and providing excellent services, on behalf of the boroughs Members - all 32 London boroughs, the City of London, the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority - fund London Councils work through subsciption. Policy decisions are taken by the Leaders' committee, which meets monthly and brings together the leaders of all member authorities. London Councils impacts on London's waste industry though the Transport and Environment Committee (TEC). The committee ensures that member councils' concerns and best practice are taken into consideration in the development and implementation of a range of transport, environment and planning policies. Further information: www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

The LDA is the Mayor’s agency responsible for driving London’s sustainable economic growth. The LDA works in partnership with industry, the public and voluntary sectors in four focused areas: places and infrastructure supporting people encouraging business  marketing London The LDA impacts on London’s waste and recycling industry through the funding of a variety of projects including: The London Community Recycling Network: a non-profit organisation that supports, promotes and represents organisations engaged in community recycling. Further information: www.lda.gov.uk

 

The London Recycling Fund (LRF) was established in late 2001 and operated over the four financial years 2002/3 to 2005/06. The LRF was a partnership between the Mayor of London, the Association of London Government and London Waste Action. The aim of the LRF was to enable a reduction in the amount of household waste generated in London and to ensure that a higher proportion of what remained was recycled or other wise diverted from landfill. Over the four years grants totaling £49.88 million were allocated to 134 projects covering a wide range of recycling and waste minimisation initiatives, see the LRF Project Page for details. Further information: www.londonwasteaction.org/lrf/index.html

 

LROG is a networking group for London Borough Recycling Officers. The group meets every 2 months to discuss issues relating to recycling and waste minimisation such as legislation, best practice and bench marking. The meetings also offer an informal environment, where authorities can network and discuss key issues with colleagues. The group also facilitates greater communication and joint working between London Boroughs. Further information: Please email: Rebecca Goodwin

 

London Remade is in the business of recycling, creating environmental solutions for a sustainable capital. This is achieved through developing markets for recycled content products, providing tailored support to help grow green enterprises and introducing green practices to existing businesses. London Remade acts as a leading advisor and consultant to London boroughs to improve recycling and waste management. The ultimate aim is to transform London’s waste into reusable resources to create viable everyday products and reduce the impact on landfill.   As the capital’s ideas factory, London Remade is bringing practical and strategic solutions to London’s sustainable future and facilitating new business opportunities through influential and expanding networks. London Remade is leading London to a sustainable 2012 Olympic Games.   A not for profit business, London Remade is funded by the London Development Agency (LDA): the Mayor's agency for business and jobs. Principal sponsors are Office Depot, Bywaters Recycling and Waste Management, M-Real and Brother. Further information: www.londonremade.com

 

The Mayor’s job is made up of several roles. One role is to lead on policy for London, setting out plans and strategies to improve the city and benefit all those who live there. The Mayor is also an elected spokesperson for the capital, and before using many of his powers must consult with Londoners, and must always promote equality of opportunity. As the executive of London’s government, the Mayor is also responsible for managing a budget of over £9 billion. This includes funding services, running London’s fire brigade, police and transport, and promoting London’s economy. In addition, the Mayor also champions London, both at home and abroad. The Mayor works closely with and sets budgets for Transport for London (TfL), the London Development Agency (LDA), the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), and the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). The Mayor furthers the wellbeing and prosperity of London and Londoners through policies and strategies. They take a long-term view and cover transport, culture, planning and development, economic development and regeneration, and a range of environmental issues including noise, air quality and waste disposal. The Mayor also has a number of other duties in relation to culture and tourism, including responsibility for Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. Further information:  www.london.gov.uk/londonissues

 

The overall aim of London RTAB is to inform and advise the Greater London Authority, the Environment Agency, London Councils and Waste Authorities within Greater London on strategic waste management issues. This focuses on inter-regional waste issues and the waste strategies of adjoining regions, including the collation and interpretation of relevant information and provision of advice on options and strategies for dealing with and planning for waste that needs to be managed within Greater London. Further information: Please email: Keith Bates

 

The Waste & Resources Action Programme was established in 2001 in response to the UK Government's Waste Strategy 2000 to promote sustainable waste management. WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment ·         WRAP are focusing on 3 main objectives to be delivered by March 2008: to cause the recycling or removal from the waste stream of at least three million additional tonnes of materials; to increase the level of public participation in recycling by adding at least four million additional ‘committed recyclers’, an increase equivalent to 10% of the adult population in England; and to reduce the amount of food thrown away by consumers and ensure more of it is collected for composting and recycling. They have seven work programmes covering construction, manufacturing, organics, retail, behavioural change, business growth and local authority support.   WRAP is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.  It works with the public, private and community sectors and undertakes activities throughout the UK with funding from Defra, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.   For further information:  www.wrap.org.uk

 

Waste Watch is a leading environmental organisation working to change the way people use the world’s natural resources. Waste Watch is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity. It aims to educate people on ways to reduce all forms of waste, from the rubbish we throw away and the energy we needlessly use to the water we pour down the drain. Waste Watch demonstrates that being less wasteful is good for business, our local environment and for the planet. It does this through its work in: education communication research By making changes to our daily lives and by changing the world around us – at home, in school, and in the workplace – we can all make a big difference. Waste Watch exists to show everyone how they can make that difference. Further information: www.wastewatch.org.uk