That is one of a number of concerns raised by the Local Government Association (LGA) in a briefing paper published alongside the bill’s second reading in parliament last week (see letsrecycle.com story).
The LGA said that it broadly welcomed the reintroduction of the Bill which, once enacted, will provide the legal framework to deliver the government’s 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy.
But, it raised some “concerns about the implementation of certain provisions within the Bill, and the new burdens that will be imposed on councils as a result”.
Consistency
With regard to consistency, the Bill proposes introducing a core set of consistent materials for recycling, which the LGA said it supported, claiming that “most councils already collect these”.
However, the LGA said that the process whereby materials are collected should not be dictated by law and that requiring collections of separate material streams could create financial and contractual difficulties.
It said: “The process by which materials for recycling are collected should be a local decision. Collecting materials in separate streams will not work in many areas. If councils are compelled to introduce separate collection streams this will have financial implications, for example on existing contracts for sorting waste, which need to be fully funded.”
The LGA noted that it was “helpful” that the Bill proposes that councils will have local flexibility where there are technical, economic and environmental reasons for collecting materials together.
Export ban
Another key message from the LGA related to the Bill’s proposals to ban the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries.
The LGA said it welcomed this idea “in principle” but warned that councils might struggle to find end markets for their plastic waste as a result – and called for development of the domestic market for material.
“Collecting materials in separate streams will not work in many areas”
It said: “We welcome this provision in principle, but this will lead to new costs for councils as it will restrict where they can send recyclable material. The UK market for recycling needs to be expanded and more recycling infrastructure provided to address this.”
Producers
Elsewhere, the LGA expressed strong support for plans for extended producer responsibility measures which would see producers pay the full cost of managing waste packaging.
“This is a crucial stage in shifting the cost away from the taxpayer and back to the polluter”, the LGA said.
However, the LGA said the Bill needed to set out the “full net costs to councils”, noting that “within the section on disposal costs, litter and flytipping of discarded packaging is not included”.
Deposit return
The bill also sets out provisions for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and the LGA said this again did not set out details on how it would work.
“A deposit return scheme has the potential to increase recycling and change consumer behaviour, but it needs to be based on sound analysis of the cost and benefits”, it said.
“We look forward to further engagement with Defra on the impact on local authority kerbside collections, litter and flytipping.”
The Environment Bill is now being considered by a Public Bill Committee which will scrutinise it line by line and is expected to report to the House by Tuesday 5 May 2020.
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