Waste Management Performance Fund too little too late for some councils

While broadly welcoming the government's announcement of the Waste Management Performance Fund (see letsrecycle.com story), LARAC said that overall, the government's response to the Strategy Unit had been “merely a useful step, when what is needed is a determined stride towards more sustainable waste management”.

Chair of LARAC Andy Doran said: “The confirmation of the size of the Waste Management Performance Fund is a recognition by Government that additional funding is required by local authorities to help us achieve some very challenging recycling performance targets.

But he warned: “This funding may be too little too late for some authorities, who are facing real mountains of waste to climb to achieve the 2003/4 recycling performance targets.”

Mr Doran said he hoped the new fund and the money diverted from the Landfill Tax Credits Scheme in the form of the Sustainable Waste Delivery Programme, would deliver real improvements on the ground in recycling and waste management.

Non-ringfenced
There was also some concern from LARAC concerning the government's declaration that the new Fund, successor to DEFRA's 140m fund, will be a non-ringfenced “Performance Reward” fund, in which the extra money might not be spent on recycling or waste.

“The Government appears to allocating more money to public spending, yet at the same time allowing this money to be spent elsewhere in local government,” Mr Doran said.

LARAC welcomed its role as part of the new Local Authority Delivery Task Force, but was unconvinced over the government's commitment to waste minimisation or reuse issues. Mr Doran also criticised the government for “stopping short of allowing authorities to address variable charging that may be very much needed by high performing authorities to reach their targets.”

LGA
The Local Government Association has also welcomed the government's response to the Strategy Unit's recommendations, but again called for greater financial support from the government.

Essex county councillor Kay Twitchen, who chairs the LGA's Waste Executive said: “These changes present a big challenge for local authorities, a challenge which will be met with the help of extended partnership working with industry, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), the voluntary and community sectors.

She added: “Inevitably costs will rise, and the LGA will be looking to the government for greater financial support for councils as they improve their waste management systems to meet the new standards.”