In a strongly worded statement it says that the money would be better spent if it were given to “community initiatives and innovative projects instead of grants which reward low recycling rates.”
In contrast to what the CRN wants, the Government has decided to support low recycling areas, many of which are in poorer and deprived areas of the UK. The CRN has conceded that because of the Government's approach, CRN projects will lose out.
The outburst has provoked a strong reaction from recyclers. One said: “It's ridiculous – to say that makes the CRN sound bitter because some of their projects may not get funding.”
Puzzling
Another source said: “It's puzzling that the CRN have decided to take this attitude, when the Government, for very good reasons, has clearly signalled that the majority of the 140 million waste minimisation and recycling fund would be diverted towards those local authorities with lower recycling rates. Michael Meacher was very keen to ensure that this initiative dovetailed with the Government's work on neighbourhood renewal and social inclusion.”
He added: “Improving the environment in areas of deprivation goes hand in hand with improving health, housing, education and employment, and typically these local authorities have lower recycling rates. Achieving more sustainable waste management through increased recycling and composting will play a significant part in improving the environment in local authorities where recycling rates have traditionally been low.”
Other sources told letsrecycle.com that the community sector is usually quick to point out the employment creation potential of increased recycling, but yet seems to want to deny this benefit to those areas which have most need for job creation.
And it is also thought that channelling money towards lower performing local authorities will be a more cost-effective way of raising the UK's recycling rate as a whole as this will achieve a greater increase in recycling both in tonnage and percentage terms.
The CRN comments were led by their UK coordinator Andy Moore, who is actually a member of the DEFRA expert panel which decides how the funds should be allocated.
“To give money in such large amounts to authorities who have next to no experience is not actually a good thing to do when you could be using the money to invest in a better knowledge base for the whole country,” he said.
Lost out
“It's true our projects have lost out in as much as they have roughly halved the amount allocated to developing community partnerships. I am surprised that some local authorities aren't making these comments, especially the ones in the South West, who are doing well.”
Mr Moore insisted it was appropriate for the CRN to take this stance: “We are saying it because we are involved with a lot of the authorities who are doing well because we don’t' want to see them losing out.”
And he warned that councils with low recycling rates “may have a limited grasp on what they may do with the money.”
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