Waste Solutions in the News

Residents in four east London Boroughs are to receive news direct to their homes about the scale of the waste problem in the capital and how the East London Waste Authority - which is responsible for disposing of waste in Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge - is planning to deal with it in the future.

The first edition of ‘Waste Solutions’, a four page newspaper, is being distributed door to door throughout the four boroughs during the next week. In it ELWA highlights the fact that over 530,000 tonnes of waste is currently being produced annually in the area and that on average every person produces half a tonne of waste per year.

European and UK government legislation requires waste disposal authorities to find solutions to deal with waste in the future. That’s why ELWA has prepared an Integrated Waste Management Strategy, which presents options for disposing of waste. The strategy identifies that disposal costs are set to continue to rise and that continuing to use landfill as the main disposal method is untenable, on the grounds of both cost and availability.

ELWA recognises that it must reduce landfill operations whilst developing other alternatives. This will be achieved by developing a strong partnership with a private sector contractor.

Four company proposals were initially examined and narrowed down to two which are now in the final stages of determination. The proposals include a range of methods and technologies aimed at helping ELWA deliver a modern approach to waste management.

The choice will be between Shanks Waste Services of Milton Keynes and Thames Waste Management, based in Surrey. The decision on the preferred company bid will be announced in the Spring.

The newspaper also gives useful information about civic amenity sites in the boroughs and how people can help reduce, re-use and recycle materials to cut down on the amount of waste having to go for disposal. And, in a picture storyboard, ELWA follows a food carton from a waste bin in a Newham high street to its final disposal in an Essex landfill site.

Councillor Roy Patient, Chairman of ELWA said: “Waste Solutions is the first of what will be a regular newspaper aimed at keeping local residents informed about the problems of waste in east London and the solutions being adopted to deal with it.”