The document, Our Strategy 2003-2006, lists DEFRA's main priorities in all its key policy areas. Summarising its objectives in the waste arena, the document reiterated the aim stated in government document Waste Strategy 2000, of getting the UK recycling or composting 25% of household waste by 2005.
Spending
DEFRA says of its plans for waste spending that 270 million will be allocated to English local authorities over the next three years as part of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. A DEFRA spokesman said this would be split up into 84 million in 2003, 92 million in 2004 and another 92 million in 2005.
A further 235 million worth of PFI credits will be provided to support sustainable waste management: 70 million in 2002/3, 100 million in 2003/4 and 125 million in 2004/5.
Waste Management Performance Fund
And the government said that “up to a further 268 million expenditure” had also been earmarked for waste. DEFRA has not yet confirmed how this will be allocated, but it is thought it may come under the guise of the Waste Management Performance Fund.
This fund was announced in the 2003 budget as a successor to DEFRA's Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund, which distributed 140 million to local authorities to help them bring in recycling schemes (see letsrecycle.com story).
When the fund was announced, the Treasury said: “it will provide non-ringfenced incentives for local government to deliver a step-change in sustainable waste performance for all households.”
The government said it would announce details of the new Performance Fund following a government consultation with local authority stakeholders.
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