Wales is set to become the first country in the UK to introduce legally-binding recycling targets for councils under legislation passed by the National Assembly for Wales yesterday (November 2).
I believe that just as every local authority in Wales has met every one of these landfill targets then every local authority in Wales can – and will – meet the statutory recycling targets
Jane Davidson, Welsh environment minister
Under the Wales (Waste) Measure, which now only requires Royal Assent to become law, Wales' 22 local authorities will be given statutory municipal waste recycling and composting targets rising from 52% in 2012/13 to 70% in 2024/25.
The proposed statutory recycling targets were last week attacked by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), which claimed the measure could cost councils an extra £30 million-a-year (see letsrecycle.com story). However, Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson has refuted these claims.
Ms Davidson said: “Seventy per cent recycling makes good economic sense. It means a saving of £38 million, more jobs, lower landfill taxes and fines, and greater opportunities for councils to make money from selling valuable materials.”
In addition, Ms Davidson, who laid the Measure before the National Assembly in February 2010, said: “We have already seen how successful statutory targets can be in keeping biodegradable waste out of landfill. I believe that just as every local authority in Wales has met every one of these landfill targets then every local authority in Wales can – and will – meet the statutory recycling targets.”
The 70% recycling and composting target formed a key part of the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) ‘Towards Zero Waste' strategy, which was published in June 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Measure
The power to develop Measures such as this comes in the wake of the Welsh Assembly Government being granted greater autonomy over its waste affairs under the Environmental Legislative Competence Order (LCO) 2010, which was granted Royal Assent in February 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Also included in the Measure are three other proposals: to make regulations over fees and charging for site waste management plans; powers to introduce landfill bans for specific materials ; and, also to require retailers to donate net profits from the sale of single-used carrier bags to environmental causes, if a voluntary agreement with retailers is not successful.
The inclusion of this provision was agreed the day after draft regulations for a 5p charge on single-use carrier bags, which would come into effect on October 1 2011, were laid before the National Assembly (see letsrecycle.com story).
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