Waste and resource management policy has been all but absent from the recently launched manifestos of all the major parties. Whilst the sector may not be a vote winner, we are an industry that touches all UK citizens as everyone needs their waste removed and recycled or disposed of.
Whatever the make-up of the next government, it will face some tough challenges if it is to achieve the 2020 targets. So it’s concerning that none of the major parties have set out a clear strategy for the industry. In fact what little there is in the different manifestos, creates as many questions as answers.
Despite the assertion in the Conservative manifesto that they had been ‘the greenest government ever’, waste policy in England has stalled while Scotland and Wales have made more progressive commitments.
Conservatives
There are few references to renewable energy and a clear specific waste policy is notable only by its absence in the Conservative manifesto. However, they did pledge ‘start-up funding for promising new renewable technologies and research’ which is encouraging but significant support will only be given ‘to those that clearly represent value for money’. The Conservative manifesto reproaches the former Labour government for its ‘failure to deliver the next generation of energy projects that will help us keep the lights on, drive bills down and reduce carbon emissions’.
Labour
Similarly disappointing is the lack reference to a specific waste policy in the Labour manifesto. Despite this, a Labour government would hope to make Britain a ‘world leader in low carbon technologies over the next decade, creating a million additional green jobs’. The manifesto sets out proposals to set up an Energy Security Board to decarbonise the electricity supply by 2030 and deliver ‘the energy mix we need, including renewables, nuclear, green gas, carbon capture and storage, and clean coal’. Labour’s Green Plan which was launched after the manifesto promises a review of resource security to unlock the economic opportunities from greater resource efficiency. In addition, we support the the establishment of a new infrastructure commission to increase resource and energy efficiency as well as reduce emissions across the economy.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrat manifesto includes ambitious plans for five new laws to reduce waste and decarbonise the electricity industry with targets. The Zero Waste Britain Bill encompasses the creation of a ‘Stern Report’ on resource use with legals targets and a clear action plan to reduce waste and ban biodegradable waste from landfill. This also includes a statutory recycling target of 70% for waste in England. However, we would challenge the feasibility of their pledge to set a statutory recycling target of 70% for waste in England.
Green Party
The Green manifesto pledges a commitment towards £35bn to renewable energy and the desire to ‘move to a jobs-rich circular economy with as much waste minimisation as possible.’ The proposed focus on reuse and repair is also encouraging and would support our expanding reuse division. The promised 50% increase in national spending on recycling by £4bn a year would provide much needed investment for infrastructure but will there be a commercially viable market for the recyclate from the Green’s proposed 70% recycling target for domestic waste by 2020. The Greens would also take Scotland’s example with a food waste landfill ban.
UKIP
The UKIP manifesto commits support and investment for renewable energy ‘where they can deliver electricity at competitive prices’ but unfortunately the only major renewable technology that meets this UKIP criterion is hydro. The promised rejuvenation of Britain’s fossil-fuel industry and scrapping of DECC, WRAP and the Climate Change Act is also disheartening.
SNP
Scotland’s waste law has already been fully deregulated but further devolution, as a result of a Scottish National Party (SNP) landslide, may drive even more progressive reforms or result in conflicting priorities. SNP’s manifesto promises the continuation of their ‘zero waste strategy’ including initiatives such as the pilot of reverse vending machines to reward recycling. We’re supportive of SNP’s pledge to invest in energy infrastructure to maximise the generation of renewable energy as well as encouraging the efficient use of materials, water and energy.
Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru’s manifesto pledges to set ambitious recycling targets based on the waste hierarchy and encourage reuse. The proposed Food Waste Bill would encourage retailers and manufacturers to reduce food waste as well as distribute surplus food to charities. In addition, Plaid Cymru promises to work with supermarkets to reduce non-biodegradable waste from packaging. The Infrastructure Act would transfer the ownership of Wales’ resources and energy to the people and Plaid Cymru would prioritise a renewable energy policy as well as encouraging businesses to use energy and natural resources efficiently.
Kristian’s view on the 2015 election continues below…
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The industry view:
Matthew Farrow, executive director, Environmental Industries Commission
“It is heartening that Labour recognise the potential of the green economy, and the importance of using government policy to create a stable investment framework. The strategy needs to cover the full range of environmental business, including for example air pollution control and contaminated land remediation, and should include joint work with the green business sector to identify and access the enormous export opportunities our members are targeting.”
“A 2030 decarbonisation target [is] very much on the right line. Disappointing though that with the UK’s ability to meet the 2020 target of 50% recycling increasingly in doubt, there is no mention in the manifesto and waste management and resource efficiency.”
“We welcome the prominence to which the Liberal Democrats have given environmental concerns in their manifesto. Beyond this, we are also supportive of the following pledges:
– A new legally-binding target for Zero Carbon Britain by 2050, monitored and audited by the CCC
-Giving full borrowing powers to the Green Investment Bank to boost investment in low carbon technologies
“If these commitments are met it would be a significant step forward in making the UK a less carbon intensive, resource efficient economy which will create many thousands of jobs.”
“The Green Party manifesto, as one would hope, contains ambitious environmental polices many of which we would strongly support. In particular we welcome the tough carbon reduction targets [and] a focus on product eco-design and recycling. In addition to the environmental benefits, action in these areas would also create many thousands of green jobs. Having said that, getting the technical details of these policies right would be challenging, and we look forward to being engaged in taking these topics forward.”
“Unsurprisingly however, we have deep concerns about the other references to environmental issues in [UKIP’s] manifesto, such as the abolition of the Climate Change Act or a push for even greater reliance on fossil fuels – which are short-sighted will do little to protect our environment for future generations.”
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Jacob Hayler, executive director, Environmental Services Association
“The next government will be presented with the difficult challenge of raising household recycling rates to meet our 2020 targets, and avoid infraction proceedings during a continuing severe financial squeeze on public finances.
“This makes it extremely disappointing that the two largest parties, one of which will head up the next government, barely mention waste and resource management at all. On this showing, our sector is going to have to work very hard to gain traction with any incoming administration, and it could be that once again the sector will find itself relying on European legislation to provide the necessary impetus for progress.”
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Kristian continues his analysis of the election issues…
A new government?
Current polls suggest that there may be another coalition government but its political make-up remains unclear at this stage. Whatever form the new government takes, there will be considerable implications for local authorities, waste collectors and processors.
Another Conservative-led coalition is likely to lead to further public spending cuts affecting municipal waste collections in contrast to a Labour government or coalition which is expected to push the case for more public spending. The former would also result in an EU referendum which could lead to a partial or total exit for the EU and would no doubt have a significant impact on the waste industry, given the EU’s influence on waste policy in the UK.
Whilst the polls show that UKIP is unlikely to win the election, its influence on waste policy could be significant. UKIP is anti-bureaucracy and is seeking to deregulate waste management. Its local manifesto pledge to reduce (and possibly abolish) landfill tax would make recycling a less commercially viable option and associated targets somewhat irrelevant.
A vision for the future
The new government should provide long-term clarity around waste policy to boost investor confidence and will in-turn enable new infrastructure to come on-stream more quickly.
A new administration would be well advised to take steps to standardise collection infrastructure across the UK. The current patchwork of collection systems and different coloured bins is difficult for residents and businesses to understand and contributes to radically different collection rates across the country.
Whilst this may go against the idea of local decision making, a more radical approach is needed in order to tackle the flat lining of recycling rates, especially in England. This may need legislation, or best practice guidance from Defra backed with incentives and penalties.
Another key issue that needs addressing is the uncertainty over the future of energy from waste (EfW). In many European countries, EfW has helped achieve much higher recycling rates than those achieved in the UK. EfW has a role to play in closing the loop on certain waste streams such as food. However, it is dependent on there being a consistent level of feedstock and this will be heavily effected by legislation such as the Liberal Democrats proposed Zero Waste Britain Bill. If there is a coalition in power after 7 May, clarity on issues like landfill bans will be vital in creating investor confidence.
Whatever the political future, our industry needs consistency regarding legislative and economic drivers to encourage investment in infrastructure and market growth. It’s the responsibility of the waste management and resource sector to work with any new framework of regulations to drive up recycling and energy recovery rates. However, too much regulation of the industry will stifle competition and damage the long-term viability of the sector.
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