Hillingdon Council has approved the public consultation phase for the West London Waste Plan, a crucial step towards updating waste management strategies in the region until 2041. The decision was made during a Council meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2026, where councillors voted to authorise the publication and consultation of the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) West London Waste Plan.

Map showing existing waste sites within the West London Waste Plan (WLWP) area, including borough boundaries and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) boundary.
Map showing existing waste sites within the West London Waste Plan (WLWP) area, including borough boundaries and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) boundary.

The updated plan aims to provide a robust framework for waste management, ensuring appropriate facilities and policies are in place for the coming decades. The current waste plan, adopted in 2015, is considered outdated. The new plan will provide a framework for waste management in west London until 2041, with a Vision and five Strategic Objectives to guide waste management towards a net-zero ambition by 2030, focusing on resource management, decarbonisation of transport and processing, environmental protection, and ensuring sufficient capacity for unavoidable residual waste.

Key policies proposed in the updated plan include:

  • Policy WLWP 1: Safeguarding and Optimising the Waste Site Network: This policy aims to protect existing waste sites and encourage their intensification and modernization.
  • Policy WLWP 2: Provision of Additional Waste Management Capacity: This policy supports the development of additional capacity, particularly for managing waste higher up the waste hierarchy, supporting the circular economy, and providing compensatory capacity.
  • Policy WLWP 3: Residual Waste Management & Energy Recovery: This policy sets conditions for the management of residual waste, emphasizing that it should only be for unavoidable waste and that energy recovery should be maximized with minimized carbon emissions.
  • Policy WLWP 4: Ensuring High Quality and Resilient Waste Facilities: This policy outlines requirements for waste management facilities to meet high environmental standards, be resilient to climate change, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Policy WLWP 5: Recovery and Disposal of Waste to Land: This policy defines conditions for the landfilling of non-inert waste and the beneficial use of inert waste on land.
  • Policy WLWP 6: Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency: This policy requires waste-related development to integrate circular economy principles, promoting reuse, repair, and high-quality local recovery.
  • Policy WLWP 7: Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure: This new policy addresses the provision and safeguarding of wastewater treatment capacity and the management of sewage sludge.

A diagram illustrating the waste hierarchy, showing stages from prevention to disposal and their corresponding actions.
A diagram illustrating the waste hierarchy, showing stages from prevention to disposal and their corresponding actions.

Councillor Nick Denys, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Property, stated: This decision was not to adopt the plan, but to proceed with the Regulation 19 consultation, allowing residents, stakeholders, and statutory bodies to provide their input before the document is submitted for independent examination. He added that the plan supports the council's ambition for a greener and more sustainable borough, safeguards important waste infrastructure, and ensures future planning decisions are guided by a modern and robust policy framework.

Councillor Bridges also noted that progressing this work would keep the council on track to meet the government's plan-making timetable, with a specific target to submit the new West London Waste Plan to the Secretary of State by December 2026. This is to ensure the plan is examined under the current plan-making system and to avoid the need to restart the entire process under new regulations.

The West London Waste Plan covers the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Richmond upon Thames, along with the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation. The plan aims to ensure sufficient capacity for managing household, industrial, commercial, construction, demolition, excavation, and hazardous waste.

Waste Generation and Management:

The West London Waste Plan (WLWP) accounts for projected increases in waste generation until 2041. For Household, Industrial and Commercial (HIC) waste, the total projected arisings for the west London boroughs are estimated to increase from 1,524,000 tonnes per annum in 2021 to 1,615,000 tonnes per annum in 2041. The plan ensures sufficient management capacity is available, with current assessed capacity exceeding the projected needs.

For Construction, Demolition and Excavation (C, D & E) waste, arisings are estimated to rise from 3.3 Mtpa in 2023 to 3.5 Mtpa in 2041. The assessed capacity for safeguarding is approximately 3.9 Mtpa, indicating a surplus. The plan supports proposals for capacity that facilitates the use of C, D & E waste and its conversion into products suitable for use, aligning with circular economy principles. The London Plan target is for 95% reuse, recycling, or recovery of C&D waste and 95% beneficial use of excavation waste (100% for inert excavation waste).

The plan forecasts that approximately 50,900 tonnes of hazardous waste may be produced in west London by 2041. The current assessed hazardous waste management capacity is around 129,400 tpa, indicating a surplus. Policy WLWP 2 supports proposals for additional hazardous waste management capacity if they meet an identified need and contribute to a network for safe and sustainable treatment across London.

A bar chart illustrating waste management in West London, showing quantities managed inside and outside the region, as well as waste imported into West London, categorized by treatment type.
A bar chart illustrating waste management in West London, showing quantities managed inside and outside the region, as well as waste imported into West London, categorized by treatment type.

Public Consultation and Potential Concerns:

The public consultation phase, scheduled for an 8-week period starting in August 2026, is a critical opportunity for residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions. Concerns are expected to arise regarding the impacts of waste management facilities on local communities and the environment, including air quality, noise, and visual amenity. Issues surrounding the safeguarding of existing waste sites and the development of new facilities, including their location, scale, and operational impacts, are also anticipated.

Furthermore, stakeholders may raise questions about the transport of waste, focusing on increased vehicle movements, traffic congestion, and the promotion of sustainable transport options like rail and water freight. The plan's support for the circular economy and resource efficiency, including the development of local Circular Economy Hubs, will likely be a key discussion point. Questions may also arise regarding the management of residual waste, the efficiency of energy recovery facilities, and their carbon emissions, as well as the necessity and management of any proposals for landfill or the deposit of waste on land. The new policy addressing wastewater treatment infrastructure and its potential impacts is also expected to generate discussion.

Economic Implications:

The new waste management strategies could have significant economic implications for businesses in West London. The plan's support for local Circular Economy Hubs may foster job creation in emerging green industries and strengthen local prosperity through material exchange, re-use, and remanufacturing. By promoting circular economy principles, businesses could benefit from reduced demand for virgin materials and associated cost savings. Investment in waste management infrastructure and the creation of jobs within the sector are also anticipated. While encouraging sustainable transport for waste may require initial investment, it could lead to more efficient logistics in the long term. Businesses may need to invest in upgrading operations to meet higher environmental standards, ensuring a more sustainable waste management system.

Timeline:

The expected timeline for the West London Waste Plan is as follows:

  • Public Consultation (Regulation 19): August 2026 (for an 8-week period).
  • Submission for Independent Examination (Regulation 22): October/November 2026.
  • Examination Hearings: Early/Mid 2027.
  • Main Modifications (if needed) published for representations: Mid 2027.
  • Inspector's Report: Late 2027.
  • Final Adoption: Late 2027/Early 2028.

This timeline aims to ensure the plan is examined under the current plan-making system and submitted to the Secretary of State by December 2026. Printed minutes 09th-Jul-2026 19.30 Council provide further details on the council's decision.