England and Wales produce over 100 million tonnes of waste each year (excluding construction and demolition waste) – a figure which until recently has been growing at around 3 per cent annually. Waste cannot be eliminated but its environmental impact can be lessened by preventing waste where possible, and making more sustainable use of the waste, through recycling and designing products that use fewer materials and processes that produce less waste.
More information on the national picture
Nearly 80 per cent of waste is split equally between Commercial and Industrial (C&I) (mainly food and product packaging) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. The remainder is household waste know as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).
Waste Strategy for England
The Government sets out its vision for sustainable waste management in Waste Strategy for England, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in May 2007. For more information, please visit the Defra website
East Midlands Regional Waste Strategy
The East Midlands launched its own Regional Waste Strategy in March 2006, which forms part of the Integrated Regional Strategy. The key themes of the Regional Waste Strategy are:
- education and promotion of best practice and behavioural change
- agricultural and rural waste management
- reduction and sustainable management of C&I waste
- fly tipping
- prevention and improved management of hazardous wastes
- using the Planning System to obtain waste management sites
- prevention and improved management of Municipal Solid Waste
- sub-regional growth issues
- reduction and management of Construction & Demolition waste
- marketing and commercial opportunities
In our own region, much has been achieved. Seventeen of our local authorities are already recycling and composting more than the 2010 national target for household waste set out in Waste Strategy 2007. Three districts are also recycling and composting more than 50 per cent of their household waste.
So what do we need to do?
Everyone is responsible for waste, from the young to the elderly, everywhere we go we either create or take on waste. We can therefore all do something about it.
Current guidance is set out in The National Waste Strategy 2007 and the East Midlands’ own Regional Waste Strategy.
Next Steps
We are one of a group of partners including the Regional Assembly, commerce, construction, environmental groups, local authorities, the Environment Agency and the east midlands development agency (emda) involved in agreeing the RWS principles and targets.
Our role is to help those authorities that are struggling to meet their recycling targets, advise them of opportunities available through the planning system. We also promote best practice across all priority areas.
