Speaking in parliament today, environment secretary David Miliband said that local authorities would be given incentives to break down the “Berlin Wall” that existed between the two waste streams.
– David Miliband
This would see councils use their influence as local community leaders to work with businesses and other organisations to achieve a more integrated approach to waste.
Mr Miliband said he hoped this would help tackle the 75% of waste which was not derived from households.
Berlin Wall
He said: “The Berlin Wall that is seen to exist between commercial and municipal waste does not make sense. In the strategy there are measures for closer working to make it easier.”
Under the new policy, councils have been urged to help businesses obtain recycling collection services and secure “adequate” trade waste sites. Councils will also be encouraged to advise businesses on re-use, recycling and energy recovery options.
Incentives
As an incentive, the government will fund pilot business waste initiatives carried out by local authorities. And, through its Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme(WIDP), it will make it a more appealing option for councils to consider building waste facilities, for both municipal and non-municipal material.
It is expected that small and medium sized businesses, which account for most unsorted commercial waste, will particularly benefit from the scheme as they often face the most difficulty in recycling their waste.
A particular issue for those smaller businesses is the rise in the landfill tax escalator and the impending ban on non-treated waste from landfill from October 2007.
A more definite benefit could come in October 2007, when the government has promised to review the monitoring of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), to see if it supports this balanced approach to collecting and treating commercial waste.
The government is to prepare guidance on good practice for councils and says that some initial “trailblazer” pilot schemes have already generated enthusiasm from councils.
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The document said: “There is much, in addition to providing recycling and collection services that local authorities can do to help businesses.
It added: “While some local authorities have noted the constraints that LATS can impose on their direct collection and disposal of business waste, the LATS should not prevent local authorities helping to facilitate commercial waste management contractors, or social enterprises offering recycling collection services for business waste.”
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