Speaking at an Institute of Wastes Management reception in Westminster, Dr Jackson said: “I was rapporteur for the Landfill Directive and it was a fascinating directive to be involved in. For all of you it is changing the approach to landfill for industry and local authorities and the way that waste management is viewed. In particular it is seeing incineration looked at again. Throughout the South West I can see local authorities looking at the issue of incineration.”
The MEP added that Europe had passed the waste incineration directive last year which would mean that “the incinerators we may build in the future will have to be cleaner”.
Dr Jackson also referred to recycling and suggested that while there was plenty of collection in the UK, the markets for reprocessing of material were not always there.
She endorsed the creation of WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme and seemed to argue that it needed more funding when she linked WRAP to the Millennium Dome. “I welcome WRAP and now I wait for WRAP to do something. I note that the WRAP budget is smaller in three years than the Dome’s was is in one.”
On composting, Dr Jackson referred to problems in locating composting sites. “Composting is fine in principle but nobody wants it near to them.” And, she raised the possibility of a draft composting directive emerging from the European Commission although this was by no means certain.
In her address to the reception, Dr Cathy O’Brien, president of the IWM, highlighted the need for funding if the UK’s waste strategy is to be met.
“Industry is willing to provide change to sustainable waste practices but a dramatic need exists for a change in the resourcing of waste management.”
Dr O’Brien quoted estimates for implementing the waste strategy of 20-40 billion and questioned where this funding would come from. “Charges at household level are subsumed within the council tax and a significant increase in council tax not favoured politically. Although favoured overseas, direct charging is still not favoured in the UK.”
And, with low landfill costs and a low Landfill Tax she said it was difficult for local authorities to balance the books for recycling.
Subscribe for free