Left a sandy waste to the editor (8)
I believe the answer is:
deserted
'left' is the definition.
(deserting is a kind of leaving)
'a sandy waste to the editor' is the wordplay.
'a sandy waste' becomes 'desert' (I've seen this before).
'to the editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'desert'+'ed'='DESERTED'
(Other definitions for deserted that I've seen before include "Abandoned, forsook" , "Defected, renounced" , "Derelict" , "uncultivated" , "defected,renounced" .)