Managing waste sustainably: Defra announces help for Councils
Environment Minister Elliot Morley has announced a package of measures to help local authorities divert waste from landfill and encourage recycling without putting additional pressure on council tax. The announcement follows publication of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2005/06.The measures are designed to give local authorities greater flexibility in deciding how best to meet tough national and European waste management targets, while working to tight budgets and within a challenging efficiency agenda.
Elliot Morley has also announced the new Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant.
Statutory performance standards for recycling and composting
Government has decided to hold the maximum local authority statutory performance standards for recycling and composting for 2005/06 at 30 per cent. This means that any authorities which have previously been required to meet a target greater than 30 per cent will not now be obliged to exceed 30 per cent in 2005/06. This change will reduce pressure on the highest performers without compromising achievement of the 25 per cent national recycling target for 2005/06. A full list of the local authorities whose statutory targets will be held at 30 per cent can be found here (Adobe Acrobat, 10 KB). These changes will be effected through a Statutory Instrument early in the New Year.
Government does not wish to discourage local authorities already committed to achieving a recycling and composting rate of over 30 per cent from pursuing more challenging goals and commends such authorities for their commitment.
The 30 per cent upper limit will not affect authorities that have negotiated Local Public Service Agreements with recycling and composting targets above 30 per cent. These authorities have independently committed themselves to stretched targets in return for increased funding.
Looking to the longer term, Government continues to expect local authorities to take all possible steps to reduce household waste and to maximise opportunities to recycle and compost. The national recycling targets for 2010 and 2015 remain at 30 and 33 per cent respectively. Defra is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the existing local authority recycling targets to inform our consideration of the merits of setting further targets for the period beyond 2005/06.
Queries about statutory performance standards for recycling and composting should be addressed to the Local Authority Waste Policy and Performance Team by email at: LAWPP@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Penalties for failure to meet Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme obligations
A reduction of £50 to the financial penalty for non-compliance with requirements to divert biodegradable waste from landfill under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme has also been confirmed. The financial penalty will now stand at £150/tonne (subject to amending the Landfill Allowance and Trading Scheme (England) Regulations 2004). This will help local authorities in planning their budgets, and will reduce the theoretical ranges of prices for landfill allowances. However the financial penalty will remain a more expensive option for local authorities than either investing in infrastructure for diversion from landfill or purchasing additional allowances. The new level of financial penalty is intended to apply for the duration of the scheme but, as with all operational elements of the scheme, is subject to review in 2007.
Queries about the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme should be addressed to the Landfill Policy Team by email at: landfill.policy@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by telephone on 020 7082 8803.
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Page published 9 December 2004