Describing the document as a missed opportunity, the Committee which represents 75% of local authority recycling officers across the UK criticised the safe approach taken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The comments came in response to Defras Waste Management Plan which was released for consultation in July (see letsrecycle.com story). The Plan provides an overview of 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 (WFD). Developing a Waste Management Plan is a requirement under the WFD.
Response
In its consultation response, which was written by Andrew Bird who is part of the policy team at LARAC, the Committee said its members welcomed any proposals which seek to improve the quality of recycling and, where possible, avoid the export of material abroad, but it raised concerns that the decentralised approach of allowing the devolved governments to interpret the WFD risked creating a disjointed approach to waste policy across the UK.
The group said: LARAC feels that as the plan doesnt introduce any new measures or policies, on the face of it should not introduce any additional financial burdens for Local Authorities.
However we feel that the approach across the UK of handing down responsibility for interpretation of the Waste Framework Directive, whilst laudable from a decentralization point has none the less created a confusing and disjointed approach to developing Policies and targets. Evidenced is now emerging in the performance of recycling between England and the other devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
LARAC also raised concerns that recycling rates in England are largely stagnating with more than half of local authorities showing an increase in the level of residual waste being disposed of in 2012/13. This new trend has the knock on effect which means councils face increased costs for waste disposal at a time when pressure on their finances is significant.
Missed opportunity
In the consultation, Defra said there were no new waste management measures in the Plan. It is this lack of vision, according to LARAC, which could see these waste disposal levels increase.
LARAC states: In conclusion it is LARACs opinion that the Waste Management Plan for England as it stands is a missed opportunity, and its lack of vision could see levels of disposal in England increase. The waste and recycling industry is a growth area, government treasurys own figures predict growth of 3.1% in the Resource and Waste Management sectors, and higher growth in more specialist waste such as WEEE.
It concluded that a more challenging plan would provide a number of benefits: It is our view that a more challenging plan would deliver the circular economy everyone wants to see as well as achieving even higher growth in the sector, with all the benefits, not least more jobs being created that can be achieved.
Register for free to comment