NAWDO press release– Simpler Recycling consultation
Thursday 9th May 2024
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NAWDO is pleased to see the publication of the Government’s response to the additional Simpler Recycling consultations that took place last November. The response provides some further clarity for local authorities around the statutory instrument and statutory guidance which are expected to follow. Whilst it is positive to see that the Government has recognised the need for local authorities to determine the best way to deliver local waste and recycling services, we are disappointed by the decision around guidance on the minimum fortnightly collection frequency for residual waste.
The responses to the consultation are clear: 80% of respondents disagree with the proposed minimum collection frequency for residual waste. This is on the basis that there is extensive evidence proving that 3 and 4-weekly residual waste collections both increase recycling and reduce the total volume of waste that households produce. This is also the only effective way for local authorities to reduce the excessive financial burden they will face from the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) including energy from waste thermal treatment. The Government’s position here shows a disconnect with the waste hierarchy and it is at odds with existing evidence on this topic. It also lacks the urgent need to tackle the issues of consumption and waste reduction as part of achieving net zero carbon targets. We expect that this position will undermine the Government’s own target of halving non-recyclable (residual) waste by 2042, including the interim reduction target of 28% by January 2028. We recognise that the Government has committed to keeping this position under review and we welcome further engagement here. This particularly acute in the context of extended producer responsibility for packaging waste (pEPR) where local authority recycling services will be funded based on their recycling performance.
We are also disappointed that there has been no recognition of the delays over the last two years around policy development involving the compliance dates for the Simpler Recycling proposals. It will be extremely challenging for most local authorities to comply with the March 2026 target dates, especially if infrastructure is required to be delivered as part of the solution. The March 2025 target date for non-household recycling is even more challenging. NAWDO strongly urges Government to consider introducing transitional arrangements, as they done with other aspects of the recycling collection and packaging waste reforms.
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