Echoing sentiments published in some of the national media last week, Cllr Sarah Nelmes, the District Councils’ Network’s environment spokesperson, said councils need flexibility in making decisions to improve recycling rates by taking into account a range of factors such as population density and type of housing. She said the “one-size-fits-all system will not work”.
Cllr Nelmes added: “Questions remain about the overall environmental benefit of some of the proposals. If the amount of material sent for recycling reduces or only increases slightly, then purchasing a large number of additional vehicles to take to our roads – many of which will increase carbon emissions, at least in the short term – does not make sense.”
Response
The government’s response to its second consultation on consistency in household and business recycling in England is expected soon. It has been delayed a number of times.
In October 2022, Defra’s head of resources and waste strategy evaluation, Dr Barbara Leach, said the government is to issue response by the end of 2022 (see letsrecycle.com story).
It is understood the latest delay came shortly before the response was due to be published on 23 March, but it was pulled last minute.
The exact reason for it being pulled out is unclear, with some technical issues thought to be behind the withdrawal. However, the proposals could also have been contentious ahead of council elections.
The further delay however does mean the response will be close to two years after the consultation was run in May 2021, as the response is not expected to be published during the pre-election purdah period, which began on 27 March. Local elections are taking place on 18 May.
Following support in response to the first consultation, the Environment Bill requires all businesses and non-domestic premises to arrange for the collection of glass, metal, plastic, paper and card and food waste for recycling or composting.
Any further delay makes this even harder
- Cllr Sarah Nelmes
Proposals
The DCN explained that it is expected that councils will already have to rush to carry out huge procurement exercises to obtain new equipment” for the proposals, within an incredibly tight timeframe.
It said councils need “clarity urgently” and warned that any further delay “makes this even harder and forces councils to wait even longer before they can take decisions”.
I think this is a mistake. There should be 2 recycling systems so councils can pick which they like most. System 1: A box for Glass, a food caddy for Food Waste, and a Bin for Plastic | Cans | Paper | Card, Or System 2 used in Wales boxes and bags for all recycling. Then it means councils won’t have to fully shift what they are doing.