Waste sector ‘can play a role’ in levelling up

Ms Tanner was speaking at the Outlook Conference last week (27 January), six days before the government outlined steps it will take to reduce regional inequalities.

The LGA’s policy advisor was speaking about opportunities the waste sector has to feature in discussions on ‘levelling up’.

Sector

She said: “What has levelling up got to with waste and recycling? It’s all about that intersection between the driver to address inequality, the driver for economic recovery and the large waste reforms also taking place on the other side.

“If you imagine a venn diagram, there’s a pretty hefty investment programme coming forward for waste and recycling, so if we push this into the conversation about levelling up and addressing inequalities, I think there can be a role to play here.

“For example, investment in skills and jobs. If we’re going to create new services and bring forward investment and technologies, how would we link this to recovery? Local authorities have little control over this, but this could be usefully joined up at local level as part of waste policies”.

Ms Tanner also said that things such as community fridges could help reduce food waste and help those in need.

Ms Tanner concluded: “I think this could be an opportunity to step back from away from the detail of this, just to think about the stuff going on one side about levelling up and recovery, and we know how innovative we are as a sector. There could be a good opportunity to at least have a conversation about the waste sector’s role in levelling up”.

There could be a good opportunity to have a conversation about the waste sector’s role in levelling up

• Hilary Tanner, LGA

White paper

The government says its white paper will set out a complete ‘system change’ of how government works that will be implemented to level up the UK.

Ahead of the white paper, the government today set out 12 “national missions”, to be achieved by 2030.

This includes boosting research & development funding outside the Greater South East by at least 40%.

Also, by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified, long-term funding settlement.