We want to share our thinking about how waste incentive schemes could work and hear the views of others
Joan Ruddock
The Department has launched an informal consultation on a document which advises councils on various aspects of the plans, from how to apply to run the schemes through to how to assess their effectiveness.
Powers for five local authorities to introduce incentive schemes on a trial basis, which reward residents who recycle and charge those who don't, are included within the Climate Change Bill which will enter Committee stage in the House of Commons on June 24, with the aim of receiving Royal Assent later this summer.
The pilot schemes would remove, for those councils affected, the statutory duty to collect household waste free of charge that is currently enshrined within the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
However, doubts have been expressed about councils' enthusiasm for signing up to trial schemes, and last week, Defra's head of waste strategy, Daniel Instone, urged local authorities to take advantage of the trial schemes if and when they are introduced (see letsrecycle.com story).
Questions have also been raised over the approach the government is taking towards introducing incentives, with some local authority experts advocating an across-the-board introduction of the schemes, instead of launching just five pilots first.
However, announcing the launch of the consultation today (June 19), Waste and Recycling Minister Joan Ruddock focussed on reiterating the benefits that the trial schemes could offer.
“Evidence from countries where these schemes already operate is that charges and rebates of around £50 are enough to change behaviour and deliver real benefits for waste reduction,” she explained.
“The shape of any pilot scheme will be for local authorities to determine – they know what is most likely to work for them in their own local circumstances,” she added. “But there are some important principles to observe, for example the need to have a good recycling service in place already, and the need to take account of vulnerable households.
And, outlining the purpose of the guidance, she said: “This draft guidance will aim to support authorities through the process of delivering a pilot scheme, whatever their ideas may be.
“We want to share our thinking about how waste incentive schemes could work and hear the views of others. I encourage everyone with an interest to contribute to the informal consultation. This is draft guidance at this stage and we will look to revise and improve it in the light of the comments we receive,” she added.
Sections
The guidance is divided into six sections, dealing with the following elements of a scheme: application and designation; technical issues; finance; coverage and disadvantaged groups; fly-tipping prevention; and, a good recycling service.
Any council hoping to introduce a pilot incentive scheme must first have a “good recycling service”, and the guidance outlines the essential and desirable criteria for this standard.
Essential criteria include a recycling and composting rate above 20%, compliance with relevant legislation and free kerbside collection of dry recyclables and at least two waste streams.
Applications from councils will be more likely to succeed if they meet desirable criteria which include a 40% recycling and composting rate, a 25% dry recyclables recycling rate and current or planned kerbside collections of plastics and food waste.
The guidance for application and designation covers the criteria government will use to assess pilot schemes, the application process for prospective pilot schemes and the formal process for designating pilots.
Criteria within this section favours pilot proposals that “are effective in delivering against their objectives within a reasonable timeframe”, “ensure value for money for any use of government money”, “test a range of different types of scheme” and “test schemes in a variety of different circumstances”.
Dealing with coverage and disadvantaged groups, the guidance is focussed on four key questions: the areas within a council's boundaries that might be suited to a scheme, the type of properties that should be included, how different types of properties such as flats and shared houses could be included, and how groups such as disabled or frail people and large families should be integrated into a scheme.
Technical
The technical guidance considers four different models for incentive schemes, which involve basing them on either sacks/tags, bin volume, frequency of collection or weight.
It examines the advantages and disadvantages of each system, how a system of charges and rebates might work and the logistics and technology required for each option.
Comments on the guidance are being sought until July 25, though input on the 'Good Recycling Service' section must be submitted by July 11.
Mrs Ruddock now plans to write to all local authorities to invite them to submit proposals for trial schemes.
The deadline for submissions would be eight weeks after the Climate Change Bill receives Royal Assent, with the aim being to start the first pilots in April 2009.
The guidance and consultation documents are now available on the Defra website, click here
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