The local authority officers body noted that it has been invited to respond to a consultation from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Exemptions and Statutory guidance for England.
This consultation includes a focus on the government’s proposal to require the frequency of residual waste collection on at least a fortnightly basis, while simultaneously advocating for weekly collections. This would impact on local authorities collecting waste less frequently or proposing so to do.
LARAC has stated that its response to this consultation will illustrate that implementing changes such as reducing the frequency of residual waste collection or modifying container sizes can lead to an improvement in recycling rates. It also warns that neglecting these measures could jeopardise the government’s recycling targets which include: recycling a minimum of 65% of all municipal waste by 2025 and reducing residual waste (excluding major mineral waste) per capita by 50% from 2019 levels by the year 2042.
‘Disappointing’
Cathy Cook, the chair of LARAC said ” Once again it is disappointing to see government missing the opportunities around reducing residual waste. They have progressed their policies around dry recycling and organic waste, which will help to go some way to support an increase in recycling. However, the lack of commitment towards residual waste restriction will subsequently undermine these policies, which seems ludicrous.”
“Local authorities work hard to implement improved services for dry recycling, food waste and garden waste; however, if residents know their residual waste will be collected either weekly or fortnightly, they will continue to place some of these valuable recyclable materials into their residual bins. Without any real incentives or disincentives, there is little that local authorities can do to change this. Restricting residual collections is obviously a key driver for behaviour change which is evidenced by recycling performance in other UK nations such as Wales.”
Flexibility
The consultation also sets out to address issues such as the exemption to separate dry recycling materials for collection, the commingling of food and garden waste, and arrangements for waste collections from non-household premises.
LARAC has expressed its support for granting local authorities greater flexibility in choosing containers and service methodologies for dry recycling and organic waste. The body recognises that there is no one-size-fits-all solution due to variations in geography, housing types, socio-economic factors, and other locality-specific criteria. Therefore, it believes local authorities are “best equipped to determine the most practical solutions within their regions.”
To find out more about residual waste collections, visit the Collection Conference, taking place on 15 November, to book your ticket please click here.
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