The Labour Party is looking seriously at including a ban on sending food waste to landfill among the policies in its 2015 election manifesto, shadow Defra minister Mary Creagh has revealed.
The MP for Wakefield was speaking at the annual environmental conference of the Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) in Warwickshire yesterday (January 11) and said that the policy was being examined by the Party as part of its ongoing policy review.
The conference also heard from Paul Vanston of the Kent Waste Partnership, who told delegates about the Partnership’s work on research into consumer attitudes on food waste.
Responding to the findings of a report published yesterday by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which claims that as much as half of the worlds food is wasted, Ms Creagh told delegates that a Labour government would seek to create a revolution in the way in which people look at food waste.
But, speaking at yesterdays session, she said: One of the things we are looking at is having a ban on food waste to landfill. It is un-defendable that food is wasted and goes to landfill, where it then gives off harmful gases. The cost involved for businesses is simply not good enough, we want to see a revolution in the way in which people look at food.
Ms Creagh explained that the measures would prioritise human consumption for any food waste that is still edible, followed by use in animal feed, and finally anaerobic digestion for food which cannot be consumed.
She added that the policy would be likely to include a good samaritan clause, which would allow food producers and retailers to donate food approaching the end of its life to charities and food banks, without fear of legal action if the food causes illness.
A policy paper on the partys waste and recycling strategy is currently being drafted by Labours shadow waste minister Gavin Shuker, and Ms Creagh revealed that it could be published as soon as February.
She has previously hinted that a landfill ban on food waste might be among Labour’s future waste strategy, including during her speech at the Labour Party conference in October 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story), but yesterdays speech was the strongest indication yet that the measure may find its way into party policy.
Packaging
On packaging waste, she commented that food packaging has a key role in preventing waste but said that a stronger reprocessing sector was needed in the UK to reduce the reliance on waste exports and provide a sustainable supply of raw materials for manufacturing industries.
She said: Much of our packaging waste is exported because we dont have the market for it here. My understanding is that China doesnt want that waste anymore. The global landscape is changing and we need to be ahead of these changes and make sure we have a resolute sector that is responding to those changes.
The session also heard from Bob Lisney, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP), which advises the government on its packaging waste policy. Mr Lisney claimed that the packaging industry is often held accountable for much of the waste produced in the UK, and should do more to educate consumers about its role in preventing food waste.
He said: The benefits of packaging need to be presented to consumers right the way through the supply chain because there is a lot of working going on between businesses to promote the advantages of products, but we would like to see more external communication showing how good these products are.
Kent Waste Partnership
Also speaking at the seminar was Paul Vanston of the Kent Waste Partnership, which comprises the countys 12 waste collection authorities. Mr Vanston revealed that the organisation had been involved with research into the relationship between food waste and packaging, set to be published in March.
Mr Vanston explained that the research was being headed by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) alongside contributions from organisations including the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Packaging Federation and the Industry Council for Packing and the Environment (INCPEN).
Register for free to comment