The area produced 2.6 million tonnes of municipal waste in 1999-2000 and has a recycling rate of just 7.2%. Its target for 2003-04 is 13%.
The strategy was drawn up by the assembly following consultation draft earlier this year which consulted stakeholders including local authorities, businesses and environmental groups (see letsrecycle.com story). The strategy, dubbed Let's Take It From The Tip, was launched today to coincide with Yorkshire Day at an event attended by local TV presenter Claire Frisby, environment minister Elliot Morley and Humber European politician Diane Wallis.
Councillor Peter Box, of Wakefield metropolitan district and chair of the regional assembly, said: “A great deal of work has gone on into drawing up this strategy, particular through the feedback we have received at public workshops we’ve held in the region.”
The area produces a large proportion of the UK's industrial and commercial waste as it is responsible for 15% of the total waste from this stream despite only 8% of the country's business and 9% of its employment being in the area. This amounts to 11.7 million tonnes of industrial and commercial waste. Additionally 8.2 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste was disposed of in the region.
Mr Box said: “If we don’t take steps to tackle the problem we not only face the prospect of increasing costs for landfill taxes and possibly fines for not complying with European legislation, but will also have to deal with the environmental impact of where the rubbish actually goes.”
The strategy lays out four objectives:
- Gain community support and involvement in the delivery of the strategy
- Reduce waste production and increase re-use, recycling and composting
- Manage residual waste in the most sustainable way
- Provide technical support and advice
By implementing these objectives, the assembly hopes to comply with the European Landfill Directive and meet the statutory recycling targets for the area. In order to comply with these targets the strategy estimates that the Yorkshire and Humberside area will need to be recycling 639,000 tonnes of waste a year by 2005-06.
Councillor Box said: “New legislation will restrict what sort and how much waste can go to landfill, so this is a problem facing us all and one which won’t go away. And while we’re delighted that the strategy has now been finalised, the key challenge for everyone is to make it happen.”
To view the waste strategy, visit the Yorkshire and Humberside Assembly website.
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