Waste Management Strategy launched
On 18 December 2018, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published their Resources and Waste Strategy, to look at ways to cut down on single use plastic and make recycling easier across the country.
The Department plan to engage with landlords and estate managers to promote recycling in houses in multiple occupation and other properties where they have responsibility for waste management arrangement. The Government also plan to review the effectiveness of current arrangements for local authority waste management and joint working and make recommendations for improvement.
Under the plans supermarkets and other retailers could be charged penalties for putting difficult to recycle packaging - such as black plastic trays - on the market as part of the strategy, which aims to make the "polluter pay". They would be charged lower fees for packaging that was easy to reuse or recycle. It will see the producers of the waste cover the full costs of recycling and collecting it. Currently the taxpayer, through local authorities, funds 90% of the costs of recycling and businesses just 10%. The scheme could also see retailers and producers pay for the cost of clearing up the litter created by their waste and for the enforcement of the scheme.
The plans also aims to:
- Ensure all households get food waste collections.
- Try to build a stronger UK recycling market.
- Introduce a tax on single use plastic with less than 30% recycled content.
- Consider banning plastic packaging where there are alternatives.
- Legislate to allow government to specify a core set of materials to be collected by all local authorities and waste operators.
- Commit to a deposit return scheme for bottles and cans.
In February, Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors Tim Douglas and Noreen New proposed a motion to Rugby Borough Council to reduce plastic waste and the authority is now looking at means to do this.
Rugby Liberal Democrats have consistantly and collectively campaigned against the £40 green bin charge in Rugby as we believe there are better ways to reduce waste and encourage residents to recycle more.
The Resources and Waste Stategy can be read here: