International waste movements have again been attracting media interest. What's the problem with that? Well, nothing. In theory the movement of quality recyclables between countries is perfectly acceptable. It is legal and should be seen as a legitimate trade in resources led by market supply and demand.
The problem is that every so often a consignment of waste goes to a country it shouldn't go to or the waste is not of sufficient quality for proper recovery. As the regulator, the Environment Agency wants to be sure that materials for recycling are of the right quality and are exported within the rules. We provide guidance on how to do the right thing but also take enforcement action where the law has been broken. Local Authorities also have a role as waste authorities responsible for the collection, recovery and disposal of municipal waste. But, what is expected of them?
Local Authorities are expected to provide a waste collection service and manage the domestic waste of their electorate. How they provide this service is a matter for each authority. Each will have circumstances which make different solutions ‘best' for them. All solutions are likely to have some social implications and public opinion will always be vociferous, whether it be against a landfill site, an incinerator, how often their bin is emptied or what kind of waste can be collected for recycling. All options are also likely to have environmental consequences locally, but now we also have to be aware of the international consequences.
If the quality of the recyclate is high it is more likely to be managed properly and end up in the right place. We think the quality if getting better but there is still room for improvement.
Liz Parkes is Head of Waste at the Environment Agency.
Local authorities
Should local authorities be expected to know where their municipal waste ends up? Well, why shouldn't they? The Landfill Allowance trading scheme (LATS) requires that local authorities report the destination of their waste. However, waste companies need to do much more to make sure they have the relevant information and share this with the waste authorities. This is something the Environment Agency is working with Industry, Government and Local Authorities to put right.
Waste authorities need to be confident in what happens to their waste and need to be able to reassure the public that their approach provides value for money but is also safe and environmentally sound. After all there is nothing wrong with sending container loads of plastic or paper overseas, as long as it is of sufficiently good quality to be safely and efficiently recycled into new products. In many cases the market decides the quality, as better quality recyclates will command a higher price, but equally there will be those that seek the cheapest option, which may not be good for the environment or the health and safety of those who handle it.
In order to achieve the required level of confidence, local authorities, when letting contracts for waste collection/recovery/disposal must look further than the bottom line. They have the power to influence the whole resource management agenda. They need to get the assurances up front about the proper management of the waste that we, the householder, expect to be recycled. How can each waste stream be turned into a useful resource? What will be the impact of the waste further down the chain? Where the waste ends up, the market will decide, but the market should be led by the quality of the material and not by illegal and inefficient waste management practices. If the quality of the waste can be improved, markets and resource value will also improve.
We all need to work together to ensure that waste is turned into quality resources in order to meet the increasing demand for new products and slow the decline in virgin natural resources at home and around the world.
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