Legislation focus at LARAC as councils seek clarity

The two-day conference begins on Wednesday (6 October) at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, and is aimed at everyone involved in local authority waste and recycling collection services.

The conference comes at a time when some councils across England are hesitant about implementing waste service changes while they wait for clarity on the Environment Bill.

With consultation responses on consistency in collections, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the deposit return scheme (DRS) under consideration by Defra, councils are awaiting clarity on requirements coming into play and how the changes will be funded. Defra has previously promised new burdens funding to assist local authorities in implementing the reforms.

The deputy director for resources and waste at Defra said at RWM last week that the government’s plans might not be published until early next year, representing a further delay for councils (see letsrecycle.com story).

This means some authorities are reluctant to roll out costly changes to waste services while they wait to see how this would be funded at a later date.

Agenda

The opening session on the first day of the conference will see Chris Preston, Defra’s deputy director for resources and waste, outline the next steps for the consultations.

There are a number of councils across England which have said they will await clarity on the Environment Bill before proceeding with changes.

Kirklees council has recently approved “interim arrangements” to extend its waste disposal and recycling contract with Suez while it waits for announcements on the Environment Bill (see letsrecycle.com story). The council said that the extension would allow Kirklees to “wait for word” of any funding that might be available to support service delivery changes. It added that it would begin procuring a permanent longer-term contract once this was clear.

Similarly, West Devon borough council has scrapped plans to change its fortnightly residual waste collection schedule, to three-weekly, over suspicions that the reforms could affect the amount and types of waste occurring at the kerbside.

Broxtowe borough council has also published an interim waste strategy document following the Environment Bill’s delay. The council added that an action plan, addressing the operational impact of the Environment Bill, will be presented to members at the first available environment and climate change committee following the Environment Bill receiving Royal Assent.

Elsewhere, Northumberland county council has put plans for a separate glass recycling service on hold, as it also waits to see if this would be funded in the near future.

Just as businesses crave certainty, so do councils – Lee Marshall, chief executive of LARAC

‘Crave certainty’

Commenting on the situation, Lee Marshall, chief executive officer at LARAC said: “Just as businesses crave certainty, so do councils. So, whilst the government have been very strong in their commitment to deliver the reforms in the Resources and Waste Strategy, there is no certainty on these until the Environment Bill becomes law. This would then start to give councils more certainty but it is still not likely to be enough for most councils to commit millions on spending on new vehicles and infrastructure.

“Defra will need to secure the funding in the forthcoming spending review to be able to mandate food waste collections and the core set of dry materials under the consistent collections policy.”

Delivery

Later on the Wednesday at LARAC, a panel discussion will take place on whether the Resources and Waste Strategy will deliver on its aims.

The session will be chaired by Daniel Roberts, sector specialist for waste and recycling at WRAP, and will also have input from NAWDO’s chair Emma Beale, Labour MP Barry Gardiner and Alison Bramfitt, group packaging manager at Nestle.

The sessions will provide much-needed clarity for the sector on how the reforms will take place.

Clarity

The Local Government Association (LGA) has previously called for urgent clarity on when new burdens funding will be available for local authorities (see letsrecycle.com story).

Last week, an LGA spokesperson told letsrecycle.com: “Councils will be watching closely developments relating to the Environment Bill, and how this is currently affecting waste services will vary around the country, depending on where councils are in their waste contract cycle.

“We will wait on any further announcements, in particular on funding of any new burdens councils will face.”

The full agenda and details of registration can be found here.