Outlining the priorities that would need to be addressed in the Treasury’s annual spending forecast, industry members also cited the need for increased infrastructure investment from the government.
But, few are optimistic that the statement will contain any new announcements for the waste sector – after the Chancellor’s spring Budget offered little clarity on the future of landfill tax rates beyond April 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, it is understood that the outcome of a series of working group meetings on trommel fines testing could be confirmed in the wake of the statement, the feedback from which may be used to reshape legislation proposed from April 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story).
ESA
Jacob Hayler, economist for the Environmental Services Association, said that the industry was now at a ‘crossroads’ where recycling rates had stalled and there is a poor climate for further investment.
Mr Hayler said: “In ESA’s view, the Government needs to improve the climate for investment in green infrastructure. It should do this through the introduction of new tax allowances for infrastructure expenditure, as well as the introduction of binding time limits on planning determinations.
“At the same time, the Government should signal that local authorities will be given the support they need to reach the 2020 recycling targets. DCLG should target support to those authorities which maximise value for money with their private sector partners, rather than Pickles’s preoccupation with those which are struggling to maintain weekly collections.”
LARAC
Meanwhile, Andrew Bird, chair of the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), was also keen for the government to give some indication of future funding for councils.
Mr Bird added: “Some strategic policy decision in terms of waste and recycling operations for England would be helpful. We would like to see a little more positive direction so we know what we need to plan for.”
Commenting on what the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) would like to see in the statement, CPI director general David Workman also outlined some key recommendations.
Mr Workman urged for the scrapping of the Carbon Price Support policy, and increased support for combined heat and power (CHP) plants.
He added that the compensation package for electro-intensive installations should be “extended and widened in scope” – arguing that only around two-thirds of additional costs are offset though existing policies.
Spending
The government has already announced a raft of spending measures in the run up to tomorrow’s statement, with the environmental agenda set to be dominated by a £2.3 billion package to shore up flood defences across the UK.
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