Announcing Defra's strategy for the next five years on December 8, Mr Blair conceded there was “much more to do”, but stressed a “new focus on environmental leadership”.
”The environment starts on our doorsteps. The plan helps individuals make their own green decisions. “
– Tony Blair
The next five years will see local authorities cutting down on the amount of biodegradable waste they send to landfill through the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme. Defra also intends to provide more money to councils for waste management contracts through the Private Finance Initiative.
Defra has said it will trial schemes to provide incentives for household waste recycling, with 5 million set aside for doing so in 2005. The Department is to launch a new scheme with WRAP to encourage shoppers to recycle more when they shop at supermarkets.
Commenting on the strategy, the Prime Minister said: “The environment starts on our doorsteps. The plan helps individuals make their own green decisions. It shows that we are committed to domestic action to match our international effort on climate change.”
Priorities
Mr Blair stressed that the environment and climate change in particular would be “one of our two priorities for next year's G8 Presidency”.
Alongside Defra's five-years strategy, the government today published the full Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, which contains measures to tackle abandoned vehicles, litter, fly tipping and illegal waste disposal.
Speaking to journalists today, Mrs Beckett said that Defra's action was particularly taking a local emphasis. She said: “If you listen to the public, if they are concerned about the environment, what they are most concerned about what is happening in their immediate neighbourhood.”
Click here for Defra's five-year strategy. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill is available on the Parliament website. More detail on today's announcements will appear on letsrecycle.com soon.
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