Review of Waste Policy - LGiU
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https://member.lgiu.org.uk/briefings/2010/Pages/201000659.aspx
Review of Waste Policy
Policy reference Policy product type Published date Author This covers
201000659 LGiU essential policy briefing 02/08/2010 Juliet Morris England
Overview The Government’s coalition agreement included a commitments to “work towards a zero waste economy and encourage councils to pay people to recycle and work to reduce littering” and “measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion”. Last month, it announced a full review of waste policy in England. The terms of reference and consultation details have now been published. This briefing provides an overview of the terms of reference and the process. The Review will look at all aspects of waste policy and delivery, including household and business waste and recycling collection arrangements, and how waste policies affect local communities and individual households. Its main aim is: "to ensure that we are taking the right steps towards creating a ‘zero waste’ economy, where resources are fully valued, and nothing of value gets thrown away." The questions raised broad views in the context of a Government agenda that seeks to: do more on waste prevention and reuse – stopping waste at its source continue to increase recycling rates, when it’s the best option maximize the cost-effective generation of renewable energy from residual waste move towards zero waste to landfill Local authorities will have important contributions to make both to the strategic issues raised, on leadership and engagement, and on the practical detail that informs the way in which services are delivered. The new emphases on waste prevention and anaerobic digestion are welcome in principle but pose considerable practical challenges. Contributions can be made, in brief, via an online survey or participation in a comments-based discussion on the web before 9 September. Local authorities will want to make detailed submissions to the formal call for evidence which deadline is 7 October 2010. Briefing in full Introduction The Government has, in its Coalition Agreement, committed to working towards a zero waste economy. The Review of Waste Policy aims to define more closely what that means and to set clear measurable objectives. The Review’s announcement in June generated considerable press attention in relation to proposals affecting domestic rubbish collections and a promise to abandon ‘pay as you throw’ or ‘bin tax’ schemes. However, the detailed Terms of Reference and Call for Evidence were only published on 29 July 2010. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is leading the Review, working closely with the Departments for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Communities and Local Government (DCLG), and Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Treasury will be closely associated to ensure fiscal policy coherence.
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Review of Waste Policy - LGiU
2 of 5
https://member.lgiu.org.uk/briefings/2010/Pages/201000659.aspx
This briefing picks up the key issues identified in the various documents accompanying the Review. It clarifies the different opportunities for input and comments on the key considerations. Terms of Reference The Review will look at all aspects of waste policy and delivery in England, including household and business waste and recycling collection arrangements. It will consider the current state of the waste policy and waste management in England and what measures should be considered to increase its efficiency and effectiveness. The overarching aim is to ensure: that the right steps are being taken towards a ‘zero waste’ economy, and that new goals are set for 2014, 2020 and beyond. In so doing, the Review will also progress Government priorities to: tackle the fiscal deficit, ensure value for money and improve resource efficiency and management; protect the environment and preserve natural resources; progress localism and ‘big society’ civic engagement, decentralising decision-making powers and increasing local accountability; address climate change, meet renewable energy targets and protect the environment. Reference is made to the different waste management approaches going on in the devolved nations and their potential value to English policy. There is also potential for the Review to influence the Government’s approach to implementing, and subsequently negotiating, its legal obligations in the European and international context. Zero waste The background document accompanying the review clarifies that a zero waste economy is not one in which no waste is produced, but one in which: resources are fully valued – financially and environmentally one person’s waste is another’s resource over time, we get as close as we possibly can to zero landfill there is a new public consciousness in our attitude to waste It also defines the ‘waste hierarchy’ of actions that are involved in waste management. These actions form the sections around which the Call for Evidence is structured: waste prevention preparing for reuse recycling energy recovery disposal The general approach Views are canvassed on the overall strategic approach, including: the ambition to achieve a ‘zero waste economy’; the contribution of waste management to the economy and environmental and energy goals; the potential for the skills and knowledge of the private sector, civil society and local communities; illegal waste activity (e.g. fly-tipping) and sanctions; proportionate regulation that affords protection without unnecessary burdens on businesses and local authorities.
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Review of Waste Policy - LGiU
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https://member.lgiu.org.uk/briefings/2010/Pages/201000659.aspx
Specific to the role of local government, the questions are raised: whether local authorities have the right responsibilities for waste services? whether there are further services that could be devolved to local authorities or directly to local communities? Waste Prevention From simple consumer-level actions to technical and industrial procedures such as product design and materials processing, actions to prevent waste will be the first priority. Contributions are sought on: the respective roles of national and local government; businesses; voluntary organisations; and individuals; encouraging businesses to design and manufacture products that generate less waste – and the potential for ‘Responsibility Deals’; the priority waste streams and/or materials - and systems for measuring waste prevention. Preparing for Reuse Ideas are sought on how Government, businesses and civil society can increase the simple processes - ‘checking, cleaning and/or repairing’ – that allow materials and goods to continue in use without technical pre-processing. It looks to extend the potential beyond the familiar furniture refurbishment and IT reclamation schemes to include other household, commercial, construction and demolition waste streams. The key questions: who is best placed to deliver an increase in reuse? how could civil society take a role? Recycling Recycling will continue to be a central waste disposal activity. Although the background document suggests that local authorities should determine the detail in line with local circumstances, evidence is sought on: the role and nature of local authority waste management collection and disposal services; the impact of choice, including frequency, of collection service on the quantity and quality of recyclable waste. Householders should be encouraged to recycle through ‘rewards and incentives’ rather than penalties, and the opportunities to link household with business recycling explored. Contributions are invited on: how best to motivate individuals, businesses and communities to recycle more. Energy recovery Extracting energy from waste (EfW) is highlighted as having a particularly important contribution to make to climate change and renewable energy targets. Whilst accepting that the local situation will generally determine the choice of technology, the Government is committed to delivering a huge increase in EfW through anaerobic digestion. Views are invited on how best to progress the commitment: what role Government, industry and voluntary groups should play in communicating the benefits of EfW to local communities; how Government can best support local government in the development of waste management plans that include EfW facilities; how to encourage community ownership of EfW facilities.
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Review of Waste Policy - LGiU
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https://member.lgiu.org.uk/briefings/2010/Pages/201000659.aspx
Disposal Disposal, via landfill, is now considered a last resort although it is accepted that it may remain the most appropriate option for some types of materials, including some hazardous waste. Views are welcomed on: how best to further reduce the amount of waste going to landfill; the types of waste for which landfill might be acceptable; when we should aim to be as close to zero waste to landfill as possible? The Review process The Review identifies a wide range of issues, highlighting those that it is particularly keen to explore. It also suggests that contributions on matters that have been overlooked are similarly welcome. It is looking to secure the widest possible input from interested parties including public bodies, representatives of business and commerce, voluntary and community organisations, and those representing consumer and environmental interests as well as householders and local communities themselves. Contributions can be made, in brief, via an online survey or participation in a comments-based discussion on the web before 9 September. Local authorities will want to make detailed submissions to the formal call for evidence which deadline is 7 October 2010. The early results of the Review will be made available in Spring 2011. Comment Given the persistent furore in some sections of the media and public over changes to waste collection services and the focus on ‘civil liberties’ and ‘penalties culture’ that surrounded its announcement in June, local authorities may not have relished the prospect of this Review. The Terms of Reference and Call for Evidence make clear, however, that this is a far more fundamental Review – not of the broad policy direction, which is determinedly towards ‘zero waste’, but of roles, responsibilities and efficacy. Above all else, it offers an invaluable opportunity to explore a fairer, more proportionate realignment of responsibilities over the 21st Century waste management challenge and how best to go about it. The Review presents a real shopping list of issues. Amongst them, the following stand out: local leadership - although the background document makes it clear that local government will remain responsible for waste management and the detail of collection and disposal schemes a matter for their local discretion, the Call for Evidence includes questions that suggest this may be up for negotiation. recycling - the controversies surrounding the technicalities of collection and management methods have dominated the waste agenda for too long. The onus has been on local authorities and households to deliver – whilst overlooking the all-important contribution made by business, commerce and industry to the actual contents of the waste stream. engagement and participation - as evidence gathered by WRAP, local authorities and consumer groups have testified for some time, communication and engagement are the keys to motivating participation and increasing the quality and quantity of recycling rates. Local authorities will have a huge body of evidence and experience to offer the Review which should, ultimately, offer a supremely important resource on which to draw. infrastructure - the big, new challenge lies in the EfW commitment. It raises significant planning and environmental issues. Local authorities will want to ensure their strategic views are considered and issues brought to the national debate in order to avoid being
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Review of Waste Policy - LGiU
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https://member.lgiu.org.uk/briefings/2010/Pages/201000659.aspx
emmeshed in insoluble local controversies as they are tasked with delivering national targets.
External links DEFRA consultation : Review of Waste Policy Downloads Related briefings Related events
23/03/2012 16:10
