Powers for five councils to trial the schemes are due to become law under the Climate Change Bill, which had its second reading in parliament on Monday (June 9).
The LGA pressurised us very strongly that we should introduce some powers but we can't make use of them if local authorities don't come forward with schemes
Daniel Instone, Defra
This followed months of campaigning by bodies such as the Local Government Association (LGA) to award the powers to help boost recycling – by being able to reward residents who recycled and charge those who did not.
However, Daniel Instone, head of waste strategy at Defra, told the CIWM opening session on Tuesday (June 10) that it was vital that councils – and groups such as the LGA – helped to make the idea a reality.
He said: “We are very keen to have candidates for the pilots. The LGA pressurised us very strongly that we should introduce some powers but we can't make use of them if local authorities don't come forward with schemes.”
From Defra's point of view, Mr Instone stressed that its intentions towards financial recycling incentives “had not changed” – despite what he called “misleading press reports”.
He added: “This has to be a key part of the scenery. It's a question of when in my view and not whether.”
However, Paul Borrett, from Norfolk county council, accused Defra of “kicking around incentives” and asked if anything was actually likely to change with such “reluctance to participate” in the trials.
LATS
Mr Borrett also questioned claims by Mr Instone that trading of landfill allowances was picking up – pointing out that as more waste facilities were built, they would become more and more worthless than they already were.
He said; “We have got a market at the moment that is worthless and can only become more worthless in the future if that's possible.”
Downturn
Also at the meeting, Mr Instone said that Defra was assessing what effect the current economic downturn would have on the Waste Strategy as a “high priority.”
He said: “We are looking at the impacts of higher food prices and oil prices and it is definitely a priority….We are nothing if we don't unite economic and environmental benefits.”
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