The UK government published its Waste Review in June setting out plans for the UK to move towards a ‘zero waste economy’.

Addressing the CIWM Conference on the day it was launched, Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “Waste as resource is a view many in the industry have been articulating for some time now. Being smart about what we do about waste and how we can reduce it in the first it is a theme that runs right through the Waste Review. In essence, it talks about a new approach to waste, one where we change the way we think about consumption and one where we change the way waste is produced.”

However, with only a few specific measures identified, the review has received mixed reactions. Significantly, despite recent musings by ministers, it contains no specific requirement for local authorities to provide weekly collection of residual waste. Instead, the government is encouraging councils to sign up to a commitment to provide a weekly service for what it terms ‘smelly waste’, but leaves it up to individual authorities whether this means collection of food waste or residuals.

Other proposals include consulting on a ban of sending wood waste to landfill, as well
as ‘a comprehensive evaluation’ of landfilling other materials, notably textiles and biodegradable waste.

In what has been called a ‘light touch’ approach to waste management, regulation measures include lessening the powers that local authorities have for dealing with problematic residents. Spelman added: “It’s important to take a more balanced approach which respects civil liberties and concentrates enforcement on individuals that are persistent and deliberate offenders… not the law abiding householder that happens to put the wrong plastic cup in the wrong bin.”

The Waste Review also outlines plans to repeal sections of the Environment Act 1995, which permit local authorities to inspect household waste. Furthermore, as part of the forthcoming Localism Bill, it confirmed
the government’s intention to abolish powers to introduce variable charging of residual waste.

Although there is little reference to government investment, funds will be available for ‘innovative reward and recognition’ schemes to encourage recycling, available to both community groups
and councils.

Many in the industry felt that there was little substance to the review. Pete Dickson, Biffa’s municipal development director said: “We need to see the fine detail behind some of the review’s initiatives before we can give it a thumbs up – or a
thumbs down.”

Friends of the Earth’s waste campaigner Julian Kirby commented: “The government has spent a year reviewing its approach to rubbish – at vast public expense – and all it’s managed to do is reduce its ambition, recycle old ideas and dump its commitment to a zero waste economy.”

He added: “Cash-strapped councils will be relieved ministers have ditched ludicrous proposals to force them to provide weekly bin rounds – fortnightly collections are cheaper, encourage recycling and are popular with householders.”