Over the summer, Nerys Evans, Assembly Member for mid and West Wales, launched a consultation on the “recycling measure” after it was selected in a ballot on February 20 – in a similar fashion to a private member's bill.
The proposal, which is believed to have the backing of environment minister Jane Davidson AM, is hoped to engender greater transparency and openness in the way that councils deal with recyclate, and encourage them to send it for reprocessing locally – which has also been an issue in recent months in England (see letsrecycle.com story ).
However, the Welsh Local Government- which represents the 22 councils in Wales – have published a response to the consultation questioning why the measure only relates to councils, and not other organisations, and raising concerns that the wording could imply that sending recycling far away should be seen as a “bad” thing.
And, without the power to force businesses to provide information to councils, they claim that it could lead to councils being unfairly criticised if they could not provide information, and would create a cost “burden”.
Writing in the response, Rachel Jowitt, interim team leader for waste at the WLGA, said: “The Association welcomes the debate this measure has brought into how Wales deals with its recyclate.
“Our response raises a few queries about whether implementation of this measure will actually solve the problem that is identified. In addition, we query whether this measure will actually improve the quality of the information forthcoming to the local authorities and thereby made public, and secondly if this issue can be rectified why it then doesn't apply to all waste generated in Wales,” she added.
Ms Jowitt claimed that there was also a risk of Wales becoming uncompetitive, as the measure could drive some reprocessor away from Wales and there could be less competition for materials, meaning councils may not be able to get a good price for their recyclate.
She said: “The actual measure proposes that “waste should be disposed of in one of the nearest appropriate installations” but the measure does not go on to define “nearest” and “appropriate”, nor does it give powers for WAG to issue guidance through this measure on these definitions.”
“We are concerned that this particular wording could be taken to mean that Wales will only deal with Wales (or maybe England) even where more secure and better value contracts could be given elsewhere.”
Summing up its response, the WLGA said: “The Association is not balking on local government's legal and moral duty to ensure that what is collected from householders is treated in the most sustainable and economic manner. But we do query the narrow focus of this measure.”
LCO
The Welsh Local Government Association also suggested that the recycling measure could be “premature” as the Welsh Assembly was still seeking a legislative competence order (LCO) from Whitehall on powers over the whole waste management agenda – which may allow information to be gathered directly from reprocessors.
Ms Jowitt said: “The Association would prefer it if through the implementation of powers under the LCO a more holistic and thorough examination could be given to how all recyclate collected and traded in Wales is dealt with.
“This would allow examination of wider waste legislation, the responsibilities of the waste industry itself, the regulatory authorities and guidance issued to those selling these commodities so that certain standards were expected and adopted by all,” she added.
The WLGA also offered to set up a task and finish group to look at the issue from a local authority perspective in more detail.
Consideration
The WLGA response will now inform the final proposals for the proposed Measure, which will be introduced for consideration by the Assembly in November 2008.
For more details and responses to the measure, including those submitted by WRAP, the Environment Agency Wales and Veolia Environmental Services, see the Welsh Assembly website.
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