Northern Ireland suggests penalties for non-recyclers

The strategy consultation was launched in Belfast this week by Northern Ireland's environment minister Jeff Rooker.

”This draft strategy will provide a strong focus on delivery. “
– Jeff Rooker
Mr Rooker said: “This draft strategy will provide a strong focus on delivery. It will involve managing materials as a resource and minimising waste and it will mean significant environmental improvements and economic benefits.

“But it will not be something that will happen in isolation, outside peoples’ daily lives. It will mean public participation in recycling. It will encourage the development of new facilities and it will help create new jobs,” the minister explained.

The consultation follows a review of Northern Ireland's Waste Management Strategy, published in 2000, which included severe criticism for the government from industry (see letsrecycle.com story). The consultation could also provide clues to the thinking behind the current waste strategy review being carried out by Defra for England.

Household waste recycling has increased from 5% in 1999 to 19% in 2005 within Northern Ireland, but the consultation accepts there is far to go to meet Landfill Directive targets.

Minimisation
One key set of proposals focuses on waste minimisation. The DoE suggests waste prevention targets that might reduced waste arisings by 57,000 tonnes over the next five years, effectively slowing waste growth rates to about 1.5% by 2010.

”Giving District Councils new powers to impose fixed penalties on householders who fail to use recycling and disposal facilities correctly would make householders more aware of their responsibility for the waste they produce. “
– NI waste strategy consultation
Specific considerations include business and home waste minimisation programmes, while construction companies could be required to submit site waste management plans for new developments.

Crucially, the consultation considers the use of ‘user charges’ to provide financial incentive to reduce waste. This could mean charging for commercial waste collections – and possibly some move to “pay as you throw” for household waste.

The consultation paper states: “At present, District Councils do not have the legal powers to make a direct charge for collection of residual wastes from householders. However, provision for this could supply the necessary incentives for both waste prevention and recycling.”

Recycling
The DoE suggests bringing in legislation similar to the Household Waste Recycling Act, which operates in the rest of the UK, and requires all councils to collect at least two separate materials for recycling from the kerbside by 2010.

The consultation also suggests giving councils new powers to penalise householders who do not recycle and financially reward those that do.

It states: “Giving District Councils new powers to impose fixed penalties on householders who fail to use recycling and disposal facilities correctly would make householders more aware of their responsibility for the waste they produce.”

Elsewhere in the consultation are measures to support market development programmes like WRAP to boost markets for recycled materials, consideration of data management, the planning system and funding issues.

The current consultation period will finish on 20th January 2006. The new Waste Management Strategy is scheduled for publication in Spring of the New Year.