London Waste and Recycling is delivering on the circular economy with stakeholder buy-in

London
Type of organisation or company
Country
United Kingdom
City
Greater London
Language for original content
Key Area
Scope
Submitted by
EUROCITIES
Start/End date
Ongoing
Yes
Type of funding
London WARB - Claire Ollerenshaw
Description

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) was established in 2007 by the Greater London Authority (GLA) Act to provide a strategic approach to waste management in London. In June 2017, LWARB published a Circular Economy route map for London as part of Circular London, one of its three key programmes. Circular London works to create the right conditions for circular economy businesses to flourish in London, which has been estimated to potentially benefit the city of up to £7 billion a year by 2036.

London’s ambition is that the city will become the world’s leading exponent of circular economy thinking and practice through collaborations with circular economy businesses and the work of stakeholders and policymakers across the capital.

The route map required an analysis of economic impacts and residual waste streams within the city to begin designing circularity. This same analysis also identified five key sectors where focused action could create leadership in sustainable urban development: the built environment, food, electricals, textiles and plastics.

Main results

Stakeholders beyond LWARB have committed to actions within the route map:

  • universities and industry partners promote circular economy in education courses or encourage innovation within their areas of influence
  • embedding circular economy into the Greater London Authority’s group responsible procurement policy, including the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and Transport for London
  • a large housing project where circular economy is being considered from demolition through to the design
  • Business in the Community is a circular offices campaign
  • Advance London provides finance and business support to SMEs developing innovative circular economy models.