Defra backs deregulatory approach to circular economy

The legislative-light proposals could be seen as an extension of the department’s ongoing work to review waste regulations – part of the government drive to save British businesses £10 billion by cutting ‘red tape’ (see letsrecycle.com story).

In its response to the Commission’s September consultation on the Circular Economy and on the functioning of waste markets, Defra argues that the main issues it would like to see addressed are:

• Exemptions for some SMEs from registering as waste carriers if they only transport small amounts of their own non-hazardous waste for example a small shop owner;

• Removing the need for applying for permit exemptions for activities that pose little risk, such as small-scale composting by schools;

• Exempting companies which collect smaller amounts of batteries from paying for battery recycling.

Policy

However turning to wider policy issues, the department has backed the waste industry’s call to look at ways of incentivising reuse and remanufacturing through product design, and adds it wants to see more ‘coherence’ in EU environmental legislation.

It also argues for EU states to use greater public procurement to ensure reuse and recycled content in good and services where appropriate.

Significantly, Defra has added that the package should contain no requirement for Member States to change ‘voluntary approaches that benefit both business and consumers’. The line is increasingly at odds with some lobby groups in the UK who want to see more regulation requiring retailers to donate unsold food.

There are also hints that Defra would be reluctant to accept higher recycling targets that could not be matched elsewhere in the EU. The department concludes that the package should have ‘the right level’ of ambition and be ‘feasible to implement’ for all Member States.

The written response states: “The UK considers that any proposals should be fully in line with the Commission’s own better regulation tests set out in Vice President Timmermans’s announcement in May this year. This means reducing unnecessary costs and complexity to business, consumers and administrators wherever possible, and making sure that measures are complementary rather than contradictory or duplicative.

“Any legislative components must respect the principles of subsidiarity and better regulation, and must allow Member States to act in the way that is most economically and environmentally advantageous.”

Landfill

Early indications from Brussels suggest an emphasis on restricting materials that can be sent to landfill and a new recycling target – albeit reduced from the 70% benchmark floated in the previous Commission’s proposals.

There has been no indication that the Commission will move towards incentivising the use of recycled materials in new products, despite yet another request from UK-based trade bodies in an open letter published today (see letsrecycle.com story).

Defra’s consultation response is available to view here.