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Councils seek clarity over Environment Bill timings

With the Environment Bill back in parliament today (6 September), the Local Government Association (LGA) has called for “urgent clarity” on the  implementation timetables for the proposed waste and recycling reforms.

Defra set out the principles in May 2022, which included the polluter pays principle (picture: Shutterstock)

The Environment Bill, which includes policies “to reduce waste and make better use of resources”, is being examined at its report stage by the House of Lords today. It is due to become law later this Autumn.

The LGA  – which represents 328 local authorities in England – said that councils and waste management companies need clarity on the implementation of reforms set out in the Bill. This includes details around the requirement for councils to collect a consistent set of core materials from the kerbside. How this is implemented remains a widely debated topic among local authorities and the waste sector over exactly how the changes will be implemented and funded.

The Association emphasised that while it supports “the principle” of the consistency in collections reform, it urged that how these materials are collected should remain a “local decision”.

Referring to extended producer responsibility (EPR) section of the Bill, the LGA welcomed the commitment for retailers and manufacturers to pay for recycling and disposing of packaging, but it reasoned that the Bill must “set out clearly” that producers will be required to pay the full net costs to councils.

Councils will be required to collect a core set of materials at the kerbside

Amendment

The LGA is also in favour of an amendment due to be discussed today, tabled by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, to introduce a mandatory target for reducing plastic waste and single use products.

Acknowledging that WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has taken welcome action in setting voluntary targets, the Baroness claims that “mandated requirements” such as this would offer greater accountability and compliance.

The Association said: “The LGA supports this amendment as it works to reduce the amount of plastic waste that councils are required to process. Councils spend £852m per year on waste collection and efforts to reduce financial burdens are welcome. In addition, this amendment will help enshrine a reduction in plastic use which in turn will assist in delivering on net zero goals.”

Clarity

It is not the first time the LGA have called for clarity from the government on the Environment Bill’s reforms.

In June, it warned that councils need more clarity on how waste services will be funded under the proposed EPR reforms (see letsrecycle.com story).

It has also urged the government to reassure councils that they will not be held “under threat” of a judicial review after undertaking a technically, environmentally, and economically practicable (TEEP) assessment if they want to roll out a different type of collection service to that stated in under the consistency in collections proposals. (see letsrecycle.com story).

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