FCC report says ‘lack of capacity’ in Defra contributing to delay in policies
Updated ‘Mapping the Politics of Waste’ report analyses how factors such as devolution, an impending General Election, and differences in attitude to the environment between Labour and the Conservatives are impacting the industry.
According to FCC Environment’s updated analysis, delays in providing consultation responses, most notably the three years it took Defra to follow up on stakeholder input over consistent collections, have been exacerbated by ‘unclear or absent guidance’ from the Government.
It states that many of the reforms aimed at positioning the UK as a global leader in environmental strategy – such as the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility – have suffered from “lethargic Government action” and a lack of desire towards completion before the upcoming general election.
FCC welcomes recent “renewed energy” with the reform of consistent collections into Simpler Recycling – detailing timescales for its implementation – the report warns of similar “teething issues” to the policy and a lack of progress due to uncertainty surrounding the election.
The slow progress delivering the Resources and Waste Strategy is attributed to a lack of drive on the part of successive Environment Secretaries since Michael Gove, as well as other issues rising higher on the Government’s agenda. Notably, FCC also contend that the delay in delivering the strategy to ‘Defra’s lack of capacity to deal with very complex changes will no doubt have also played a part’.
Commenting on the report, FCC Environment’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Longdon said: “The last few years have seen uncertainty and crisis stemming from both national and international factors. This updated Politics of Waste report examines how far we’ve come, and how much further we need to go.
“Decarbonising is a matter of choice, adapting to climate change is a necessity. Regardless of whoever is in government after the election, we hope we will see a renewed vigour on environmental policy and a drive towards a circular economy.”
Waste Crime
On the matter of waste crime, the report stresses the need for greater clarity on how the Government’s reforms will help tackle the issue. The report highlights the brevity of the problem, stating that even the most conservative estimates demonstrate that it costs the UK economy at least £1 billion per year.
FCC partnered with the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) to run a poll to gain a greater understanding of council officers' views on waste crime. The poll found that over 95 per cent of respondents believe that the Environment Agency has insufficient enforcement funding to comprehensively tackle waste crime.
Similarly, 91 per cent of officers responding claimed that their local authority lacks the necessary resources to tackle the issue, while a further 77 per cent believe that the Government will be unable to meet its 2043 target of eliminating waste crime.
The report claims that whilst Defra may propose further financial penalties and regulatory measures to fight waste crime, this is still inadequate to guarantee the presence of a well-financed and effective regulatory body empowered to effectively address the issue. To address this, the waste company calls on the sector to continue lobbying for improved regulation and increased resources towards effective enforcement.
