Context The City of Westminster generates almost 200,000 tonnes of Local Authority Collected Waste per year (2018/19), with an above average amount of waste per person (354kg per year). This council is responsible for collecting and disposing of this, but commercial waste is collected by a variety of private waste carriers. Cutting waste and increasing Westminster’s low recycling rate remains a significant challenge. Westminster’s consumption emissions (those linked to purchased products and services rather than direct activities) have reduced by 21% from 2001 to 2018. However, the city’s consumption emissions are still above the London average, and among the highest emissions per resident in the capital (fifth highest at 9.22 tonnes per person). Around 20% of Westminster’s waste is sent for re-use or recycling, with most of the recyclable waste treated at Southwark’s Materials Recovery Facility Westminster has the lowest recycling rate (c.22%) of all London local authorities and well below the national average of 43% Most of Westminster’s non-recyclable waste (/home/webapps/asp_fr/data/asp/publications/westco-communications/461_10---wcc_climate-change-action-plan_000/climate-change-action-plan-461_1080%) is processed at the Southeast London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) which derives energy from waste to supply heat to nearby homes via a district heating connection Virtually zero waste from Westminster is sent to landfill as of 2019 The GLA is targeting net self-sufficiency by 2026. Meaning London will have capacity to manage the equivalent of 100% of waste generated The upcoming Environment Bill will set requirements for all businesses to recycle their waste by 2023 Westminster’s consumption emissions are higher than the London average, with the borough producing 5.4% more emissions than average from food & drink, 2.5% more from clothing and footwear and 8.6% more from alcoholic beverages and tobacco Reduced Consumption and Waste Virtually zero waste from Westminster is sent to landfill as of 2019 " " commitment and Collaboration commitment and Collaboration challenges and opportunities challenges and opportunities 34 | Zero Carbon City 2040 Westminster Climate Emergency Action Plan Contents Contents Glossary Glossary accelerating Delivery accelerating Delivery Foreword and introduction Foreword and introduction