Tens of millions of pounds saved for north Londoners: NLWA’s priorities for the new Government

Following the results of the general election, NLWA welcomes the opportunity for the new Government to seize on this moment of change and make real progress towards protecting the environment and promoting the circular economy.

NLWA Chair Councillor Clyde Loakes wrote several welcoming letters to incoming local MPs, including Prime Minister and Member for Holborn and St Pancras Sir Keir Starmer. These letters expressed NLWA’s eagerness to work closely with the new Labour Government to support its manifesto aim of “reducing waste by moving to a circular economy.” As Councillor Loakes noted in one of his letters: “We know that tackling the climate crisis will be a priority for this government and we are glad your party recognises that moving to a circular economy will play a key role in this. NLWA strives towards the same outcome.”

With the previous Government supporting unfair waste reforms that unjustly placed the financial burden on local authorities and its hard-pressed council tax payers, NLWA welcomes the opportunity for the new Government to address some of these issues and put forward a more effective plan for supporting a circular economy. The Authority looks forward to meeting with MPs and cabinet ministers to share knowledge and work in partnership to create better outcomes for local residents – both in north London and across the country. Changes it hopes to support the new Labour Government to implement include:

1. Ensure the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) targets manufacturers, not council taxpayers

NLWA gladly supports efforts to decarbonise and recognises that placing the burden on polluters is an effective way to do this. However, the Authority thinks it is unfair that under current plans, local residents will have to bear this cost when Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities are included in the scheme from 2028. It estimates this could cost north Londoners up to £35 million in the added expense of waste disposal from the Edmonton EcoPark. The focus of the Emissions Trading Scheme should instead be to charge the polluters and tackle the fossil carbon embedded in products during manufacture, and NLWA looks forward to supporting the new Government to explore how this can best be achieved.

2.  Allow publicly-owned Energy from Waste facilities to operate in the model of GB Energy, by exempting them from the Electricity Generator Levy (EGL)

NLWA gladly supports the new Government’s plans for GB Energy, managing power generation for the benefit of communities rather than private shareholders. Its Edmonton EcoPark Energy from Waste facility operates on the same principle, generating sustainable energy and returning income to residents.

However, the inclusion of publicly-owned Energy from Waste facilities in the Electricity Generator Levy limits the Authority’s ability to do this, as the levy targets income it would otherwise pass back to councils. Where previously this was £10.2 million, this has now been completely erased.

NLWA agrees that electricity generators should pay their fair share, which it does by generating income that directly supports north London residents. To allow NLWA to continue to do this, the government must exempt publicly owned Energy from Waste facilities from the Electricity Generator Levy.

3.  Work with local authorities to improve food waste reforms

NLWA welcomed the previous Government’s introduction of compulsory food waste recycling services from 2026. However, this will require significant capital spending on new facilities that the current legislation does not provide funding for. New burdens and responsibilities placed on local councils new to be fully funded. The NLWA estimates the capital costs alone for compulsory food waste recycling could be up to £25 million, which it would need to pass on to boroughs and local residents. It looks forward to being able to work with the new Government to create a better funding model that would see local authority costs fully covered and prevent further financial pressures on local council tax payers.

During the election the Labour manifesto highlighted environmental protections as a priority for the party, and NLWA is glad to see this so high up the agenda for the new Government. The Authority knows ministers and MPs recognise the importance of waste reduction and the circular economy in addressing the climate crisis, and looks forward to supporting the new Government to implement these vital reforms. As Councillor Loakes summarised: “Following 14 years of austerity measures, this must be a priority to ensure limited resources can be better spent on delivering essential frontline services and successfully implementing waste reforms.”

You can read the letters Councillor Loakes wrote to ministers and MPs on our news page.