Policy SI 7 — Reducing waste and supporting the circular economy

Policy SI 7 Reducing waste and supporting the circular economy A Resource conservation, waste reduction, increases in material re-use and recycling, and reductions in waste going for disposal will be achieved by the Mayor, waste planning authorities and industry working in collaboration to: 1) promote a more circular economy that improves resource efficiency and innovation to keep products and materials at their highest use for as long as possible 2) encourage waste minimisation and waste prevention through the reuse of materials and using fewer resources in the production and distribution of products 3) ensure that there is zero biodegradable or recyclable waste to landfill by 2026 4) meet or exceed the municipal waste recycling target of 65 per cent by 2030 [163] 5) meet or exceed the targets for each of the following waste and material streams: a) construction and demolition – 95 per cent reuse/recycling/recovery b) excavation – 95 per cent beneficial use [164] 6) design developments with adequate, flexible, and easily accessible storage space and collection systems that support, as a minimum, the separate collection of dry recyclables (at least card, paper, mixed plastics, metals, glass) and food. B Referable applications should promote circular economy outcomes and aim to be net zero-waste. A Circular Economy Statement should be submitted, to demonstrate: 1) how all materials arising from demolition and remediation works will be re-used and/or recycled 2) how the proposal’s design and construction will reduce material demands and enable building materials, components and products to be disassembled and re-used at the end of their useful life 3) opportunities for managing as much waste as possible on site 4) adequate and easily accessible storage space and collection systems to support recycling and re-use 5) how much waste the proposal is expected to generate, and how and where the waste will be managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy 6) how performance will be monitored and reported. C Development Plans that apply circular economy principles and set local lower thresholds for the application of Circular Economy Statements for development proposals are supported. 9.7.1 Waste is defined as anything that is discarded. A circular economy is one where materials are retained in use at their highest value for as long as possible and are then re-used or recycled, leaving a minimum of residual waste. London should move to a more circular economy as this will save resources, increase the resource efficiency of London’s businesses, and help to reduce carbon emissions. The successful implementation of circular economy principles will help to reduce the volume of waste that London produces and has to manage. A key way of achieving this will be through incorporating circular economy principles into the design of developments (see also Policy D3 Optimising site capacity through the design-led approach ) as well as through Circular Economy Statements for referable applications. 9.7.2 The adoption of circular economy principles for referable applications means creating a built environment where buildings are designed for adaptation, reconstruction and deconstruction . This is to extend the useful life of buildings and allow for the salvage of components and materials for reuse or recycling. Un-used or discarded materials should be brought back to an equal or comparable level of quality and value and reprocessed for their original purpose (e.g. recycling glass back into glass, instead of into aggregate). 9.7.3 To assist with the introduction of Circular Economy principles, the Mayor will be providing further guidance on Circular Economy Statements . Circular Economy Statements are intended to cover the whole life cycle of development. This will apply to referable schemes and be encouraged for other major infrastructure projects within London. Boroughs are encouraged to set lower local thresholds through Development Plans. 9.7.4 In 2015 [165] London produced just under 18 million tonnes (mt) of waste , comprising: • 3.1mt household waste – 17 per cent • 5.0mt commercial/industrial waste – 28 per cent • 9.7mt construction, demolition and excavation waste – 54 per cent 9.7.5 Modelling [166] suggests that if London achieves the Mayor’s reduction and recycling targets, it will have sufficient Energy from Waste capacity to manage London’s non-recyclable municipal waste, once the new Edmonton and Beddington Lane facilities are operational. 9.7.6 The London Environment Strategy sets out a pathway to achieving a municipal recycling target of 65 per cent by 2030 and outlines the Mayor’s approach to municipal waste management in detail. This includes London achieving a 50 per cent reduction in food waste and associated packaging waste per person by 2030, and London local authorities needing to provide a minimum level of recycling service, including separate food waste, to residents by 2020. To achieve these recycling targets, it will be important that recycling, storage and collection systems in new developments are appropriately designed. Further detail on how developments should do this is set out in guidance. 9.7.7 Re-use and recycling rates for construction, demolition and excavation waste and material (CD&E) in London is estimated between 50 – 60 per cent [167] for 2015 with some large construction projects including the Olympic Park achieving 85 – 95 per cent recovery rates. The targets for CD&E waste and material are already being set on some projects, but better data (particularly relating to reuse on site) is needed to inform performance. The adoption of circular economy principles in referable applications (and promoted in Local Plans) is expected to help London achieve the CD&E waste and material recovery targets early in the Plan period. 9.7.8 The movement and management of household, commercial and industrial, and construction, demolition and excavation waste will be monitored in collaboratLondon Plan Policy SI 7 · official source →