Defra “acutely aware” of need for funding to fight waste crime

But, he suggested that winning future funding support across government towards delivering the waste strategy might not be easy to achieve.

Speaking at a meeting of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group in London, Mr Bradshaw, said that it was necessary “to try and ensure resources are there to deliver infrastructure through private finance and local government spending.”

The discussion at the meeting heard of an example of how cuts in current Defra budgets are already hitting the environment sector. Kay Twitchen, a Conservative county councillor and member of the Environment Agency board, told Mr Bradshaw: “There needs to be an increase in funding for dealing with waste crime and there seems to be no sign of this.”

She added: “The Environment Agency budgets have been cut horribly in this round.”

Responding, Mr Bradshaw said: “Whatever happens to the Defra settlement in the next round, we are acutely aware that we can't starve the Environment Agency and local authorities of resources to tackle waste crimes.”

Support

Those at the event – who came from packaging organisations through to waste companies – generally voiced strong support for the 2007 Waste Strategy for England.

Peter Jones, development director at Biffa, described the 2000 review as “more of an aerial view of the landscape. Now we have a lot more beef in the document and we have indications that waste is on the carbon agenda.”

Bob Lisney, a consultant and former county surveyor with Hampshire, said: “This is a very comprehensive strategy. The theme of this document is that we really have got to start changing what we do and also that there is a need for waste facilities.”

Mr Lisney advocated a greater belief in “resource recovery”. And, he pointed to the idea of multi-area agreements which are contained in the strategy, as being of great importance. “This is a big signal on planning and brings in the strategic planning role of the local authority.”