The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affair's (DEFRA) long-awaited new waste strategy for England is now expected to be published in May. Speaking at a Chartered Institution of Wastes Management event in London, Neil Thornton, DEFRA's director for environment, quality and waste, said the England Waste Strategy 2007 would not be released before the Budget, but it is however nearing completion. DEFRA decided to hold off the strategy until after the Chancellor delivered his Budget on 21 March, as last December's pre-budget announced possible increases in the current Landfill Tax.
DEFRA is also awaiting the publication of a report into the future of local government funding, which will include an analysis of the cash allocated to waste services which could make recommendations on "pay as you throw" schemes. The strategy's publication was also held up by the approach of environment secretary David Miliband towards climate change, in the recently published Climate Change Bill. When it is eventually published, the strategy will look at how carbon levels are affected by increasing recycling and recovery from the waste stream. All types of recyclables will be considered, although glass will feature less because of the large amounts already recovered. It will also strengthen relationships and partnerships with waste professions and seek to make the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) as accessible as possible to local authorities, so the Government can achieve national targets.
The strategy was due to be published in October.
