Defra sets out waste policy timetable

Defra has today (November 8) set out a timetable for major announcements on waste policy it expects to make over the next year with the publication of its 2011-15 business plan.

The document, which was launched alongside business plans for all other government departments by Prime Minister David Cameron, also sees Defra reveal that from May 2011 it plans to begin compiling information from local authorities calculating the cost of waste management per household.

The business plan document identifies the coalition government priorities for food, environment and rural affairs and states how the department will help economic growth while also retaining its environmental credentials.

It includes confirmation that the findings of the government's review of waste policy in England will be published in May 2011. The government had previously stated in its June 2010 structural reform plan that it intended to publish the findings of the review in April 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Defra states that it will continue to work to set ‘zero waste' goals for the period 2014 to 2020 until April 2011, and then publish these goals officially in May 2011.

The department also reveals it will report on its plan to “explore voluntary responsibility deals among waste businesses” in April 2011. This corresponds with comments made by recycling minister Lord Henley in August, where he labelled voluntary deals as “the way forward” for business waste (see letsrecycle.com story).

Repeal

In the plan, Defra also vowed to repeal the part of the Climate Change Act which allows councils to introduce household charges for waste. This repeal process, which is expected to be completed by November 2011, is set to be carried out under the forthcoming Decentralisation and Localism Bill (see letsrecycle.com story).

One of the main tenets of the business plan is Defra's commitment to anaerobic digestion. The department intends to “set out steps” to promote the uptake of the technology this month (November 2010) through consultation with the industry and stakeholders and publish a detailed strategy for AD in May 2011.

Also, included in the business plan is an ambition to increase transparency on spending, which includes plans to make the cost of local authority waste management per household available. This process would come into effect from May 2011, although the exact details are not included in the business plan.

The issue of transparency – through a so-called Information Strategy – was put out to consultation today. The consultation closes on January 31 2011.