The extra resources came following strong criticism from Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee report, The Future of Waste Management. The report, published in May 2003, criticised the government for being “too timid” and failing to have a clear direction in waste management policy (see letsrecycle.com story).
The government's response to the report, released today, confirmed that “an additional 1.5 million will be made available for administrative resource in DEFRA to implement waste delivery. Recruitment for additional posts within the strategy and delivery teams is underway following a skills analysis of the new workstreams and a new training programme is being identified to address any additional needs.”
The response, available in the EFRA Committee's Ninth Special Report, stated that the new Waste Implementation Programme has been set up to tackle difficulties faced by local authorities in meeting recycling and composting targets (see letsrecycle.com story).
“It is accepted that dramatic change is needed to meet the challenging and imminent targets that face this country,” the government said, “but there is no doubt within government that the will and the mechanisms will be in place to ensure the best chance possible.”
Recycling Credits
The government said it will shortly be carrying out a review of recycling credits – expected to end by November 2003. Work is beginning on variable charging for household waste, on which the government said it will review its position in early 2004. And, DEFRA said that it would be considering material specific recycling targets for councils as part of its review of Best Value Performance Indicators later this year.
It said: “The government accepts that there is a case for considering material specific recycling targets in conjunction with local authority household waste recycling targets.”
Agency
Responding to criticisms that the Environment Agency does not have sufficient funding or regulatory powers, the government said that it would be looking into the effectiveness of penalties for environmental crimes and it was also considering further powers for the Agency in tackling fly-tipping.
But on funding levels, it insisted: “In the government's view, the Agency is sufficiently funded to deliver its statutory responsibilities.”
A full copy of the EFRA Committee's Ninth Special Report, The Future of Waste Management: Government Reply to the Committee's Report, is available from the Parliament website.
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