London Assembly Member Richard Tracey has been confirmed as the new chair of the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB). Tracey, who was appointed to the post by London Mayor Boris Johnson, was confirmed yesterday (26 July) in a special hearing at the London Fire Brigade Head Quarters. He is appointed to represent Johnson as Chair of the Board until 2016.

As Chair of the LWARB, Tracey will oversee a budget comprised of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) funds to carry out the Mayor of London’s waste management agenda and improve waste management in the capital. Tracey will fill the position recently left by James Cleverly, who will step down following his appointment as Chairman of the London Fire Brigade Planning Authority.

“There are millions of pounds of cash savings to be made from being more efficient with waste and huge potential for this sector to create jobs. James Cleverly has done a fantastic job championing this agenda notably working with boroughs to deliver impressive efficiency savings”, said Johnson.

“I am delighted that Richard Tracey will now be picking up the reins at the London Waste and Recycling Board to promote my top priorities, overseeing investment into waste infrastructure at an important time of expected growth.”

Tracey confirmed his goals of realising Johnson’s mayoral priorities, saying: “Handling waste and increasing recycling and other innovative methods of dealing with our waste are critically important in London. I look forward to Chairing the London Waste and Recycling Board to help deliver the Mayor’s priorities in this area, cutting waste, finding alternative means of handling the capital’s waste and also looking at earning income to be reinvested into improved waste management. This will be fully aligned with the Mayor's agenda of attracting investment into the capital, creating jobs and economic growth.”

Tracey’s experience prior to this role includes being a former Member of Parliament for Surbiton, serving as Environment Minister under Prime Minister Thatcher, and serving as a senior member of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. Most recently, Tracey has acted as Mayor’s Ambassador for River Transport since 2009, in which role he increased both passenger and freight transport on the River Thames.

Former Chair James Cleverly leaves the role after two years during which time he gained Board approval for the UK’s first re-use network (the London Re-use Network), set up a £5 million Flats Recycling Programme for local authorities, and developed waste infrastructure projects such as London’s first anaerobic digestion facility.

The next Board meeting is set to take place in Autumn and will be webcast live from LWARB’s website.