Recycling officers call for government help in funding waste initiatives

The report “Learning from Inspection – Waste Management” draws on the Commission's findings from the 100 best value inspections it has carried out over the last year. It calls on the government to educate people about the need to minimise waste and to look at incentives to encourage recycling and landfill tax credits to be invested in waste services. The report concluded that councils need to find the best value service and that this would not necessary be the cheapest option.

Chris Davey, chairman of Larac – the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee – responding to the report, said: “I am pleased that the Audit Commission has drawn attention to the need for the government to review the compatibility of the recycling targets and reducing collection costs to the lowest quartile. The report has also drawn attention to the need for the government to explore possible incentives to encourage reinvestment of recycling credits and landfill tax credits to improve waste services which is vital if we are to make best use of existing funding opportunities.”

Although the report said that targets are achievable the Commission found that many councils are finding it difficult to meet them and said that steps need to be taken to minimise the amount of waste produced.

Mr Davey said: “I recognise the validity of targeting waste minimisation strategies at the whole community but I believe that this is not something for local authorities to tackle alone. A properly funded national initiative is needed. Local authorities will do what they can with their limited resources but we cannot really compete against the major advertising campaigns urging people to buy throw away items such as cleaning cloths and disposable nappies.”

The Commission also encouraged the development of initiatives with other authorities and with the private and voluntary sector. “If statutory targets are to be met and sustainable waste management achieved, waste collection and waste disposal authorities need to develop closer partnership working with each other and with other key stakeholders including the private sector.”

Mr Davey added: “I feel that the Audit Commission is not looking at the real picture on recycling which should be based on the combined effectiveness of all the recycling schemes in an area and not just one tier especially as in many cases the waste collection authorities and waste disposal authorities are working together to achieve the targets.”