Concern has been expressed by LARAC and Friends of the Earth this week that high-performing councils might ease off their recycling efforts because Defra decided to limit recycling targets for 2005/06 to 30% of household waste.
Just over 100 English councils had been set household waste recycling targets at 33%, 36% , 40% or higher before Defra's ruling late last week. But, speaking to letsrecycle.com, high-performing councils said they will still press ahead to reach higher rates despite passing the 30% mark.
” We will continue to strive to be the most environmentally friendly council in the country.“
– Cllr Alan White, Lichfield DC
Feeling among some authorities is that Defra's decision may have been taken to win pre-election favour by limiting pressure on the Council Tax, and that recycling targets may go up after the election.
Councils said the forthcoming Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme targets, recycling grants provided by Defra and the importance of maintaining public motivation in recycling were also reasons to keep the ball rolling.
In total 103 councils are affected by the recycling cap, with those such as Daventry and Lichfield district councils already achieving household waste recycling rates above 40%.
In response to Defra's target cap, Lichfield said it would not be relaxing its approach to recycling. Councillor Alan White, member for operational services, said: “Over the past four years we have worked tirelessly to get our recycling rates up to the highest level possible. We will continue to strive to be the most environmentally friendly council in the country.”
Disincentive
But, there is a danger that the decision to cap recycling targets at 30% will alter some local authority plans for major new collections. Aylesbury district council's recycling officer, Robert Smart, said he believed there was the possibility of collections being put on hold.
Mr Smart said: “There is potential for a disincentive effect. Councils might reprioritise issues. Some councils might be thinking, 'why commit to major collections?'.”
Targets
For some councils, Defra's decision came too late, and plans to reach recycling rates higher than 30% are already in motion. Martin Cole, recycling officer at Eastleigh in Hampshire, said: “Eastleigh already has plans in place, so it is not going to stop us pursuing our original 40% target. But it is nice to know it takes the edge of things.”
”We need to make sure we don't take the foot off the accelerator.“
– Martin Cole, Eastleigh BC
However, Mr Cole said there was likely to be new targets in the future, and that therefore “we need to make sure we don't take the foot off the accelerator”.
Mark Harrison-Jones, recycling officer at another high-performing Hampshire council, Fareham, said he was also expecting new, higher targets in the future. Mr Harrison-Jones told letsrecycle.com: “You can bet your life they will be put back up after a year – this is the opinion of a number of authorities I've spoken to – so we will not be slowing down.”
LATS
As well as possible new recycling targets, the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme is proving a big driver for councils to keep improving their recycling rates. Councils that landfill more biodegradable material than the allowances they hold are to be fined 150 per tonne under the scheme, which begins in April 2005.
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