The proposal comes as part of the Department's consultation on the recycling credit scheme, published this week. In the consultation Defra stated: “We propose the introduction of specific re-use credits, operating on the same principles as the recycling scheme, and payable between disposal and collection parties, as well as to third parties.”
Minimisation
The report stated that re-use and minimisation are higher up the waste hierarchy than recycling, and contribute to diversion of waste from landfill. Accordingly, the department sees no reason why they shouldn't be offered the same incentives as recycling.
One of the current stumbling blocks that Defra faces is working out the value of re-use credit. The general consensus is that re-use items are not diverted from disposal but actually delayed – the argument being why the Waste Disposal Authority (WDA) should pay twice, firstly when the item is re-used and then at a later date when it is eventually disposed of.
At present the government does not have a preferred method for calculating the value of the credits earned through re-use, and it hopes to receive feed back from the industry on the best way of approaching the subject.
Value
Other areas the department is looking at in the consultation are the introduction of flexibility into the recycling credit scheme, the change of the financial value of recycling credits to Waste Collection Authorities (WCA's) and ensuring effective operation of a third party payments system.
The consultation has been drawn up due to the Environment Protection act (1990) no longer being beneficial to the collection and disposal of waste. In some cases it can even be the cause of problems. The report states: “In this new climate, in which joint working is vital and economies of scale are increasingly the order of the day, many local authorities – both WDAs and WCAs – identify recycling credit payments as one of the most divisive factors in the two-tier relationship.”
The document can be viewed by
clicking here.
The consultation is open to response until the October 22. Responses should be emailed to LAWPP@defra.gsi.gov.uk
, faxed to 020 7092 8764 or posted to Local Authority Waste Policy and Performance Team, Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs, Zone 7/E14, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria street, London SW1E 6DE.
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