Government launches review of waste policies

The government have launched their review of waste policies, and are asking businesses, households, communities, and local authorities in England to contribute their views.

The review will look at what policies are needed to reduce the amount of waste generated and to maximise reuse and recycling, and will also consider how waste policies affect local communities, individual households and businesses.

Some of the areas the review will consider include how best to encourage and incentivise individuals, businesses and communities to produce less waste and recycle more and how government can work with local councils to increase the frequency and quality of rubbish collections.

Also, future infrastructure needs, including the role of energy from waste and anaerobic digestion and how business and household waste is collected, sorted and recycled.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Reducing waste needs to be made as easy as possible for people, it should be driven by incentives not penalties and common sense rather than coercion."

"We want everyone to have their say on what waste policies should look like and how existing policies affect them. This will be a comprehensive review of all waste policy from product packaging to waste collection."

Further information:
Defra