Labour and Lib Dems push ‘zero waste’ up agenda

The Labour document, entitled 'A green future fair for all', reiterates commitments made in the party's full manifesto earlier this month to promote on-the-go recycling and ban materials from landfill (see letsrecycle.com story).

It also pledges continued action to tackle single-use carrier bags and reduce packaging, stating that: “We will continue to work with suppliers to reduce plastic bag use and will reinforce regulations to reduce unnecessary packaging.”

While in government, Labour's approach to both single-use bags and packaging reduction has largely focused on voluntary action, with Defra managing a commitment by supermarkets in December 2008 to cut the use of carrier bags (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, the 'Courtauld Commitment' made by retailers to tackle packaging waste was brokered by Defra-funded WRAP (see letsrecycle.com story).

Launching the party's green manifesto yesterday, energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “Tackling climate change isn't just about avoiding disaster but also ensuring we have a prosperous future and a fair one. That's why I am proud of Labour's Green manifesto.

“It embodies our values, creating jobs for young people, protecting the vulnerable, standing up for the many and enshrining our commitment to fairness now and in the future,” he added.

Liberal Democrats

Meanwhile, in their 'Policies for the environment' document, the Liberal Democrats build on pledges made in their full manifesto to promote anaerobic digestion, set 'zero waste' targets and promote eco-design and packaging reduction (see letsrecycle.com story).

In particular, they outline plans to significantly increase the range of products for which retailers and manufacturers have a legal responsibility to take-back at end of life.

“We will create a statutory duty on retailers and manufacturers to accept the return of products and packaging from customers once they come to the end of their useful life; this could include electrical equipment, plastics bags, bottles and furniture, beginning with a pilot on carrier bags and mobile phones,” they state.

Manufacturers and retailers currently have statutory responsibilities drawn from EU legislation to fund the collection, treatment and recycling of packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and end-of-life vehicles.

Espousing his party's environmental policies as he launched the Liberal Democrat document, the party's leader Nick Clegg said: “Something really exciting is happening in British politics. This is a huge opportunity to set Britain on the road to a prosperous and green future. We should seize it.”

Green Investment Bank

Elsewhere in the documents, both parties reiterate their support for the establishment of a 'Green Investment Bank' to support the development of environmental infrastructure such as green energy projects.

The Labour proposals for the institution would involve £1 billion of public sector capital from the sale of assets being matched with £1 billion from the private sector “to help bring the required finance into offshore wind projects and other low carbon infrastructure.”

And, the Liberal Democrat plans for a United Kingdom Investment Bank are similarly based on government “seed funding” being used attract private finance, which, the party is says, is “essential to delivering the much needed expansion of Britain's transport and energy infrastructure when public finances are tight”.