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Are we meeting the waste challenge? |
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We each produce the equivalent of 6.67 tonnes of waste every year, and most of it goes into holes in the ground. Huge efforts are being made to turn around this situation through minimisation and recycling, but are they enough? David Thorpe investigates.400 million tonnes of waste arises in the UK each year, a quarter of which is from households, commerce and industry. The rest is from construction and demolition wastes, mining and agricultural wastes, sewage sludge and dredged spoils. Most still ends up in landfill, but around 35% of industrial and commercial waste, and just over 22% of household waste, is recycled or composted, a poor record compared to several other European nations. The Landfill Directive, via the amended Waste Strategy 2000, is the main driver forcing councils to reduce waste, but despite a few bright stars they are generally struggling. They now pay £150 per tonne for waste landfilled over their statutory limit. By 2010, biodegradable waste going to landfill must be 75% of the amount disposed in 1995; by 2013 it should be 50% and by 2020 35%. The Government's Waste Implementation Programme was launched less than two years ago, and the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme and the increased Landfill Tax Escalator kicked in only last April, so their effects are only just being felt. But is the waste management sector itself tooled up sufficiently? Is skills shortage an issue? And where will the big wins come from? I asked a panel of representatives from the public and private sector how they thought we were shaping up, and they obliged by talking rubbish - deliberately. PUBLIC SECTORIs the waste management sector ready for the future? Sir John Harman, Chairman , Environment Agency: Not really - there are too many challenges. Matthew Offord, Councillor, Barnet Council: Very few local authorities have up-to-date waste management strategies. Some crucial areas affecting the future are still under discussion such as the single waste disposal authority in London. Chris Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive. The Chartered Institute for Waste Management: We asked this very question to the delegates at our annual conference in June of this year and over two thirds said no. I would agree: we do not have an effective strategy, adequate resources or public will and understanding yet. What are the main barriers currently to effective, sustainable waste management?JH: The slow pace of investment in new infrastructure. We estimate 1000-2000 new installations are needed. The difficulty [more perceived than actual] of getting major installations through the planning process. We don't have a market maker here, except for municipal waste where Local Authorities perform the role. CM: The current planning infrastructure, which is incapable of delivering the facilities necessary; a lack of public awareness; and skills shortages in key areas. MO: More action needs to be taken with waste producers. Government, assisted by local authorities, needs to educate consumers about the impacts of their life style choices. What are you most optimistic about in terms of current strategies and trends? CM: Government is becoming more proactive in consulting and listening and the investment in the Waste Implementation Programme, indicating a commitment to real change across the industry. JH: The rate at which municipal recycling is improving; the opening up of new markets in recycling and the work of WRAP in finding markets eg for secondary aggregates, helped by the Aggregates Tax; and minimising waste by companies. MO: Tonnage based levy consultation. The proposals give a greater priority to recycling and waste prevention. How important are skill levels and where are the main gaps?CM: Particular gaps exist in relation to new technologies to replace landfill and producer understanding of their responsibilities and opportunities - CIWM is working on initiatives in both these areas. JH: We are competing for staff with the civil engineering industry. We do a lot of training, but people often go elsewhere when they get a better offer. There's also a need for more entrepreneurs, to find uses for new recycled materials. The industry is quite settled and doesn't innovate enough. It needs more competition and new entrants. What key actions will have the biggest impact in meeting future challenges?CM: Education and training. Effective communications programmes are essential to overcome negative perceptions. JH: I'd like to see a strategic waste management authority to orchestrate delivery and provide firm leadership. Waste Strategy 2000 had good principles, it now needs a good implementation plan. I'm impressed with the way Wales has done this, with its Team Wales approach. Perhaps we need a Team England approach. The definition of waste is causing problems: we need clarity about when we can cease to regard a substance as waste. Magistrate punishments of petty criminals is at too low a level: the average fine is £8500. We need more resources for enforcement and regulation. MO: Successfully engaging with all residents in recycling and waste prevention, and the siting of future new facilities. Daniel Instone, Head of Waste Strategy at Defra: Our Waste Strategy review, to be consulted upon early next year, will offer a clearer, longer-term vision for waste and resource management as part of the Government's drive for Sustainable Development. It's an opportunity to evaluate progress so far, reassess assumptions that have been made about costs, growth in waste and waste reduction, recycling and recovery. It will be based on new data, advancements in technology and better understanding of the environmental, economic and social impacts. PRIVATE SECTORIs the waste management sector ready for the future?Nigel Aitchison, Managing Director, Shanks PFI Investments Ltd.: Yes. The difficulty lies with the enabling framework such as planning and local authority financing. Peter Jones, Director, Biffa Waste Services: Interestingly, if you compare the ten best and worst performing councils for waste, the top ten are conservative and LibDem, and the bottom Labour. The issue will come to a head around 2010. If an authority gets it wrong, and are only recycling say 8% in 2009, then their cost of dealing with waste will mean an incease in their community charge of 5%. This is an electoral/political timebomb for Labour. Wendy Lord, Communications Officer, London Waste: The Waste management sector is undergoing extensive change. There's been a major shift from waste management to resource management and a focus on an integrated approach to resource management. What are the main barriers currently to effective, sustainable waste management?Malcolm Iley, Director, Trowers and Hamlin: Site acquisition and rationalisation, planning - particularly where sites are in the green belt; risks associated with investment in new and emerging technologies; lack of a realistic approach from funders; and poor coordination by WCAs and WDAs in the letting of procurement contracts. We need a strong and sustained market so funders can see sensible draw-down being matched to performance targets, secure income streams and managed debt. NA: Whilst the instigation of PPS 10 will be welcome it will come too late to help local authorities meet landfill diversion targets. The cumbersome nature of PFI/PPP contracts is another major factor; client officers have to be allowed to negotiate sensible commercial deals and not be handcuffed by central Government. WL:An extensive overhaul of our waste management infrastructure is needed along with swift planning and development and acceptance of alternative technologies. The expertise of disposal authorities, collection authorities and the waste management sector stakeholders should really be shared to gain best possible progress. The required drivers such as legislation and financial incentives will affect speedy change. PJ: The landfill tax won't be high enough to justify expenditure in expensive new facilities until 2010. The space needed by new plants is greater than allowed for in the local planning process. The PFI process has caused some LAs to say they can only allow for domestic waste sites, not commercial and industrial waste handlers. This means nothing will happen until 2010 when it's economically viable, but if they acted now via PFI, councils could be getting an income stream by charging gate fees. What are you most optimistic about in terms of current strategies and trends? NA: The aim to deliver better waste management services through long term integrated contracts is a real positive and one that Shanks is committed to achieving. WL: Waste awareness campaigns proved popular and government funding through Defra and WRAP allowed local authorities in particular to invest in waste awareness projects. Industry is embracing a variety of solutions and investing in research and development with landfill reduced to a ÒsupportingÓ role. PJ: The new consultation on PFI criteria, the review of the recycling credit scheme, the proposal to amend the charging system to be based on tonnage, the irrevocable force of the landfill tax ratchet, and the price of carbon going up, making obvious the links between waste, renewable energy, and the agriculture sector, How important are skill levels and where are the main gaps?MI: Traditional skill levels, particularly in terms of procurement and managing new risk profiles, will not be sufficient to enter into more complex longer term funding arrangements. NA: There is an increased emphasis on process engineering and project finance skills. PJ: We need 20 times more people than are employed in the landfill sites - about 45-50,000. Society needs to say what technologies we will be using, and they have to be trained. WL: We employ an array of staff; recycling operatives, engineers, chemists, drivers, project directors. As opportunities are developing and legislative changes affect the treatment and disposal options, there may be a skills gap if investment is not made in relevant staff. LondonWaste practises collaborative working as well as skills sharing with our European partner company. What key actions will have the biggest impact in meeting future challenges?MI: Sustained capital investment. NA: A sensible outcome to the Renewables Obligation review so the UK achieves significant levels of renewable energy production through utilisation of solid recovered fuel (SRF) produced from municipal solid waste (after the economic maximisation of recycling and composting). PJ: The increase in waste treatment costs of £50/tonne by 2010 given 90m tonnes in the waste stream is an 0.5% increase in the Retail Price Index, which is a 20% increase in inflation, or £100 / year per household. Politicians need to be selling this idea to everyone.
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