Representatives of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Resource Association had spoken of their concerns about a lack of leadership and ambition within government and Defra (see letsrecycle.com story).
In a statement, the department said: “Waste and resource management remain important priorities for the government. That is why reducing waste is one of the key aims in our departmental strategy that was published last week. Furthermore, we are developing our 25 Year Environment Plan to cover all aspects of the environment, including waste.”
However, the department did not comment on its view on the circular economy proposals currently being discussed by the EU and member states.
The strategy published last week can be seen at: Strategy and does mention reducing waste. However, there is little reference to waste in the five-year plan apart from waste crime.
The 25 Year Environment Plan is to be produced with the involvement of the government-backed organisation, the Natural Capital Committee to which appointments are currently being made. A framework is to be published within the next few months and the full plan is to be developed by the end of 2016.
Comprehensive
In last week’s five-year plan, Defra comments on the 25 Year Environment Plan and says:
“Defra will work with the Natural Capital Committee to develop a comprehensive 25-year plan for the environment. This will:
• help ensure the environment is appropriately maintained and improved so it flourishes and continues to underpin our economic success and wellbeing
• develop the structures and tools to draw together economic, social and scientific evidence and provide practical approaches to enable people to value nature systematically and fully when they are making decisions on the ground and to ensure we get the greatest value from both public and private investment
• integrate delivery and decision-making on environmental quality by using catchments as the building block, driven by local join-up, Defra’s organisational reform and robust action at local level
• bring together business, environmental non-governmental organisations and others to deliver improvements to the environment, harnessing people’s enthusiasm and connecting people with nature”
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