The regulations, which relate to the composting of catering waste, were proposed in a DEFRA consultation paper last month (see letsrecycle.com story). If, as expected, they are made law in early 2003, they will usher in the most restrictive composting conditions in the world – something that has triggered anxiety amongst people intending to compost catering waste.
Speaking at the Composting Association annual conference in Nottingham, Mr Meacher hit back at industry claims that the government was being overly cautious. He said: “In our view, this is not unnecessary or excessive regulation but a fundamental requirement of good practice.”
Strict
The consultation is so strict because the government fears the consequences of allowing any practice that could lead to contamination of the food chain by meat infected with foot and mouth or swine fever.
“Foot and mouth cost this country somewhere in excess of 3 billion. None of us can take any risk whatever in letting that happen again,” the minister said. Referring to the risk assessment on composting catering waste that was published in May 2002, he said: “Our proposals draw very heavily on our risk assessment and this demonstrated that the avoidance of bypass is key to avoiding contamination of the food chain. We cannot introduce rules in which the basic principles of risk management are not adhered to.”
At present, the composting of catering waste is banned altogether in the UK. Mr Meacher seemed sympathetic to composters' concerns that the regulations could damage the industry, saying: “The composting of catering waste is a vital component if we are going to meet our targets for the reduction of biowaste going to landfill.”
Arguments
The minister also hinted at arguments within DEFRA, which is often seen as being dominated by agricultural interests. “Everyone in this country expects the government to take every possible reasonable step to ensure against the return of these diseases,” he said. “Some have suggested that DEFRA must be mad to allow the composting of catering waste at all after foot and mouth. Our aim is allow a reasonable and sensible balance. It's never easy making a compromise but that's what we have got to do.”
But he refused to accept charges that the government was being unfair by imposing stricter controls than in the rest of the European Union. “Comparison with other member states is not entirely useful or relevant. We are starting out from the trauma that we have just experienced,” he said.
In response to questions about funding provision, the minister said that the government had not yet decided whether to hold a third round of bids for the Waste Minimisation and Recycling fund. Local authorities are expecting to get the results of their second round bids by the start of next year.
If there is a third round, Mr Meacher said, local authorities should be able to bid for catering waste composting projects, as the consultation should by that time have become law.
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