Ignore recycling targets says WAG spokesperson

Welsh Assembly misinformation spokesperson is telling Councillors ...increasing recycling would cost more....than incineration??? But Incineration IS the most expensive option. And the 70% target is not ambitious and saying the target is not urgent ...actually implying don't bother. "70% target was only due to come into force by 2025...WLGA members aware... that the implication that 70% is an immediate target is incorrect."

Came across this in the story.below .More incineration lobby news...attacking recycling ...a disgrace that Jane Davidson boasts of better recycling targets yet the WAG spokesperson is saying they don't really matter and giving green light to LAs to ignore them. Recycling is cheaper and creates more badly needed jobs.. ..needs a little more creative thinking... but it seems the Welsh Government Association are too cosy with the lobbyists and incinerator builders..See the buddies here http://www.wasteawareness.org/pm/162

That story.. Recycling ‘too expensive’ for Welsh authorities 8th November 2010

The Welsh Assembly Government has ambitious plans to increase recycling targets to 70 per cent.
However, the Welsh Government Association (WLGA) has voiced concerns that reaching such an ambitious target would cost councils an extra £30m a year. (Wrong see pfi costs) This has led to fears that other public services could suffer.
(Prof Connett A rational policy would give rebates for waste reduction and recycling while surcharging incineration and particularly its ash. Incinerator ash is toxic so the professor criticised the UK for charging only £3 per tonne for landfilling ash, instead of £40 per tonne on normal landfilling of waste.Professor Dr Paul Connett http://cardiffagainsttheincinerator.blogspot.com/ )

A 40 per cent recycling target has already been met, and EU regulations only require 50 per cent.
Aled Roberts, the leader of Wrexham council, said: “Local authorities are committed to increasing the recycling of waste. “On average we are currently recycling around 40 per cent, which is a great improvement on 7 per cent which was achieved in 2000-01.

“As local authorities we recognise our responsibility to the future of the planet and are committed to increasing the rate of recycling as far as possible, in light of all our other responsibilities.” A spokeswoman for the Assembly Government said the 70% target was only due to come into force by 2025. She said: “We worked closely with WLGA members to set this target, so they will be aware that the implication that 70% is an immediate target is incorrect. “There are good reasons behind this figure. Seventy percent recycling is cost-effective, because recycling is cheaper than land-filling and because it means we will avoid landfill taxes.”

Prof Connett sees 'zero-waste' as largely achieved by 2020.

He reported not only Flanders' 75% recycling but also progress in Italy with 2000 communities signed up and 200 of them already reaching 70%. The Welsh Minister's claim to be leading in sustainability is rendered nonsensical by deferring 70% recycling to the long-term – not even by 2015 or 2020, but only by 2025 do they aim to reach 70%.

See also WAG offering bribes to councils

 Nova Scotia (Canada) they diverted 50% of waste from landfill in 5 years (Halifax diverted 60%), created1000 jobs in collection and treatment of recyclables and compostables, and a further 2000 jobs created in the industries handling the recovered materials.

Local councils advised to 'burn ' rubbish!!!

Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) fails to take the iniatative letting Wales down with their reaction to WAG's announcements of 70% recycling targets for 2025. Their recommendation to LAs is.... (you've guessed it!) "Energy from Waste", i.e. in all probability incinerators. Taking the least environmentally friendly option!

Let’s Recycle 23.10.07

The Welsh Assembly Government has asked local authorities in the Principality to consider increasing their recycling/composting rate to 70% by 2025.

Doing nothing beyond the current 40% recycling aim by 2010 is not an option because beyond that date the EU targets are set higher with the threat of fines if we do not meet them

Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Government

But council chiefs have reacted with scepticism and said the target would be "massively challenging" and "heroically ambitious", especially without massive investment.

Jane Davidson, the minister for environment, sustainability and housing, proposed the new rate at a meeting with council leaders and chief executives, last week. She said Wales had to "look at a harder focus" for targets in the future to combat climate change, reduce reliance on unsustainable landfill and meet EU targets for reducing biodegradable waste to landfill and boosting recycling.

Ms Davidson added: "Doing nothing beyond the current 40% recycling aim by 2010 is not an option because beyond that date the EU targets are set higher with the threat of fines if we do not meet them," she added.

The proposal would see the recycling rate rising from 40% in 2009-10 to 52% in 2012-13 to 58% in 2015-16, to 64% in 2019-20, and to 70% by 2024-25.

Wales hit a recycling/composting rate of 27.6% for 2006/07, beating its target of 25%. The Welsh Assembly announced a recycling funding injection of £14 million earlier this month, which also included setting up Wales's first plastic recycling unit (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, local authorities have reacted with caution to the minister's proposal to boost the recycling rate to 70%. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) chief executive Steve Thomas said: "We have to be realistic about what is achievable. The 70% target outlined by the Minister for 2025 is massively challenging for local authorities, even heroically ambitious.

He added: "If targets are to be the way forward then firstly the Assembly Government must look at whether it has the powers itself to bring about the massive cultural shift in consumer and producer behaviour that is needed and secondly whether commensurate levels of waste funding are available." The Association, which represents the country's 22 councils was also concerned about how funding could be provided to help local authorities meet the target.

Related links

· Welsh Assembly

· Welsh Local Government Association

Mr Thomas explained: "Whatever option we choose will require massive and increased investment. A recent report highlighted that an additional £86m was needed for local authorities to meet the 2010 diversion targets. Yet based on last week's Comprehensive Spending Review local government will only see a 0.8% real terms growth increase for waste management next year and 2% the following year."

He added that councils would be meeting with the Assembly Government to discuss all the options and that they were looking at energy-from-waste as "potential solution" to the waste problem.