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Reply received from SWDWP 21st December, 2009:
Dear Ms Warren,
Thank you for your email.
The problem with waste in the South West Devon area is the same one that
is shared nationally. 27.3 million tonnes of municipal waste was
produced in the UK last year, the vast majority of which originated from
households. Rapid progress is being made nationally to divert waste
using policies of reduction, reuse and recycling, resulting in
substantially less waste being sent to landfill. However, 13.8 million
tonnes, or 50.3% of municipal waste arisings, were still sent to
landfill last year. The EU Landfill directive requires authorities
across the UK to reduce this figure to just 35% of 1995 levels by 2020,
necessitating alternative treatment.
All alternative treatments that were thought to be feasible for the
partnership were appraised as part of the outline business case,
available at
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/appendix_4a_-_swdwp_options_appraisal___technical_modellin~1.pdf
Waste minimisation is a high priority for the partnership. It features
prominently in the UK waste management strategy 2007 (available at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/index.htm)
and is reflected in each authority's waste management strategy.
Nationally, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) run numerous
campaigns to promote waste minimisation, such as the 'Love Food Hate
Waste' campaign (www.lovefoodhatewaste.com). In addition to this, they
have established the 'Courtauld Commitment' with grocery retailers and
brand owners representing 92% of the market. To date, it has achieved a
cessation of waste packaging growth, and is seeking a reduction from
2010 onwards.
In South West Devon, this policy is being promoted through the 'Don't
let Devon go to waste' campaign which publicises key messages to
residents in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Further information about the
campaign and its successes is available at www.recycledevon.org
The campaign puts an emphasis on consumer choice, which in turn
sends a message to producers to reduce their packagingfor example,
opting to buy loose fruit and vegetables instead of those in plastic
packaging. Increasingly, actions like these encourage a view that
excessive packaging is ethically unacceptable.
With regards to your comment about the cost of dealing with packaging
being incorporated within the cost of the product, this is already being
achieved through the Packaging Waste Regulations (2007), details of
which are available at
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/producer/packaging/regulations.htm
These regulations place a responsibility on packaging producers to pay
for its recovery by purchasing 'Packaging Recovery Notes' from packaging
reprocessors which cover the cost of recycling or disposal. Of course,
this obligation increases the overall cost of producing packaging, which
is ultimately borne in the cost of the product purchased.
Despite these measures, a substantial amount of packaging still exists
which is currently landfilled. Processing this, and other residual
waste, through an Energy from Waste plant means that it will be
recovered in the form of energy, and will also represent a cheaper
alternative in the longer term.
I hope that this email has provided some useful information. If you
would like any further details or a printed copy of any of the documents
mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Many thanks
South West Devon Waste Partnership
Civic Centre, Floor 8
Plymouth, PL1 2AA
www.swdwp.co.uk |
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