330 new waste disposal units could appear across London if the Mayor gets additional powers.

Yesterday the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, outlined plans to create a London Single Waste Authority (LSWA) bestowed with planning powers enabling it to build new waste and recycling plants wherever it chooses.

Wandsworth Council’s member for environment and public services, Kathy Tracey said: “This dismissive approach will alienate thousands of Londoners when they see that new waste plants are being imposed on their neighbourhoods against their wishes and without their views being listened to.”

The proposal is that the Mayor should become responsible for waste planning in London and that the LSWA should have compulsory land purchase power.

This would not only allow the Mayor to build new facilities against local opposition, but would also permit him to extend the use of existing waste plants. The refuse station currently operated by the Western Riverside Waste Authority in Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, already contends with issues of noise pollution and heavy traffic as waste collections arrive from four boroughs.

The new power would allow the Mayor to extend opening hours and permit other boroughs to use the site, increasing the detrimental effects on local residents.

Wandsworth councillor Ms Tracey said: “Instead of working with the boroughs to improve performance still further he wants to centralise the whole operation and short circuit the planning process.”

The Mayor justified his plans by saying that 11 out of the 16 London waste authorities are currently failing to meet statutory recycling targets set by the EU. Wandsworth borough currently recycles 17.5 percent of its household waste, exceeding government targets of 16 percent.

However, nationwide failure to meet EU directives could lead to fines of up to £278m by 2020, which would hit residents through council tax rises.

The LSWA aims to avoid these costs by decreasing the use of landfill sites and investing in new technologies for waste treatment and recycling.

The Association of London Government is expected to propose that the LSWA function as a London Borough joint committee, rather than becoming another Mayoral authority.

This would allow councils to voice residents’ concerns about new sites and their impact on local communities before plans are implemented.

If the Government approves the Mayor’s proposal, the LSWA could be in position by late 2007.