The Plan provides an overview of the current waste management infrastructure in England, as well as evaluating how government policy will support the proper implementation of the objectives of the Waste Framework Directive.
Under the Directive, European Union Member States are required to produce one or more waste management plans, through central or local government, which provide a framework through which the Directive can be met.
However, the document published today does not contain any new policies on waste management, instead bringing together the findings of the 2011 Waste Review, which was published in June 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story).
The Plan is designed to complement the waste planning policy (PPS10) published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) which sets out the policy requirements that planning authorities must take into account when considering proposals for new waste infrastructure. DCLG is due to consult on updated version of PPS10 this summer.
Planning
Similar Waste Management Plans covering the devolved administrations are also being drafted.
In its letter accompanying the consultation, Defra said: The Plan does not introduce new waste management measures. The purpose of this consultation, therefore, is to seek views on whether the Plan when combined with the updated waste planning policy will fulfil the obligations of Article 28 of the revised Waste Framework Directive as far as England is concerned.
It adds: We estimate that – because there are no new policies in the plan there are no costs and benefits arising from the Plan itself (though there are of course costs and benefits associated with the policies referred to in the Plan).
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The devolved administrations and Gibraltar are producing their own waste management plans which together with the Plan for England are needed to meet the requirements of the Directive.
The consultation is open until August 9, and seeks to determine whether the two documents will fulfil Englands requirements under the Directive.
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