Councils in Wales who fail to meet the country's new statutory recycling targets will face fines of £200 a tonne, according to plans launched for consultation today (November 29).
Our local authorities have already done a fantastic job in contributing to Wales' recycling rate increasing by more than anywhere else in the UK in the past decade
Jane Davidson, Welsh environment minister
Earlier this month, the Welsh Assembly Government agreed plans to become the first UK government to impose statutory recycling targets on local authorities, which would require them to recycle 52% of waste by 2012/13 and 70% by 2024/25 (see letsrecycle.com story).
And, now it has launched consultation on the details of how the targets will be implemented – including the extent of fines facing councils if they fail to achieve these goals.
The penalty – which is still subject to agreement with the Welsh Local Government Association – would see councils fined in relation to the percentage they miss the goal.
In an example given in the consultation document, the WAG states that, if a council generating 50,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year is 2% short of the recycling goal, it would be fined on the basis of 50,000 multiplied by 2% multiplied by £200 – equating to a fine of £200,000.
However, in the consultation, the WAG states that it would seek to work with councils to develop an action plan to overcome incidents where they fail to achieve the recycling rate, and would use penalties as a last resort.
Launching the consultation today, Ms Davidson said: “The Waste Measure is an important piece of legislation for Wales, and a huge step forward in our aims to reach 70% recycling by 2025 and be a zero waste nation by 2050.
“Our local authorities have already done a fantastic job in contributing to Wales' recycling rate increasing by more than anywhere else in the UK in the past decade. I want them to keep up the good work and urge them to take part in this consultation.”
Goal
The proposed long-term 70% recycling and composting target reflects the ambition outlined by the Welsh Assembly Government in its ‘Towards Zero Waste' strategy, which it published in June 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Ms Davidson claims that the measure could save local authorities £38 million in landfill disposal costs, if the recycling goal is achieved. However, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has criticised the proposal, stating that it will cost councils an additional £30 million to deliver the necessary waste services (see letsrecycle.com story).
In context, the current Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) would see councils fined £200 per tonnes based on the amount they exceed their allowance for sending biodegradable waste to landfill.
Register for free to comment