148/10 The
Government wants to work with businesses to help them reduce their
waste and increase recycling through voluntary responsibility
deals, Environment Minister Lord Henley said today. Working with
businesses to put in place voluntary responsibility deals on waste
will remove the need for further regulation and will lead to less
waste and more recycling with the added benefits of businesses
saving money and helping to protect the environment.
Visiting the SITA UK plant in the North East of England to see
waste being converted into energy, Lord Henley said;
“As householders we all spend a lot of time trying to do the
right thing with our waste and recycling, and rightly so.”
“But it’s equally important that businesses - both large and
small - do the same. Twice as much waste comes from commerce and
industry as from all households put together, so it’s critical
that they play their part.”
“As Secretary of State Caroline Spelman made clear last month
when announcing the review of waste policy, this Government
believes that businesses, like householders, should be encouraged
to do the right thing, rather than tied down or penalised with
excessive rules and regulations”.
Lord Henley pointed to the good work carried out under existing
voluntary agreements - such as the Courtauld Commitment on grocery
retail packaging and food waste - as a model for what can be
achieved in the future.
Working with businesses, the voluntary responsibility deals on
waste will look to deliver change that works for businesses and
their customers. By encouraging competition between signatories to
achieve the outcomes and stimulate growth and innovation the
changes can be delivered cost effectively.
Lord Henley said that a number of sectors were under
consideration for possible voluntary responsibility deals in the
future, and that there would be close cooperation and active
partnership with the businesses and sectors concerned in
developing the deals.
“We see responsibility deals as an important part of drive
towards a zero waste economy, and I hope that businesses will come
forward with ideas and proposals for actions we can work together on.”
Notes for editors
Lord Henley, Defra minister responsible for waste is currently
undertaking a two day tour in the North East region and will
discuss waste and recycling issues with people at the following
locations - Richmondshire Council, SITA UK Energy from Waste Plant
(Billingham), South Tyneside Council, Fareshare (Sunderland) and
SITA UK Material Recovery Facility (West Sleekburn).
· The review of waste policy, announced on 29 July will look at
what policies are needed to reduce the amount of waste generated
and to maximise reuse and recycling, while also considering how
waste policies affect local communities, individual households and
businesses, the report will report back in Spring 2011. For
further information see link - http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/2010/07/
Contacts:
Defra Press Office
Phone: 020 7238 6600
NDS.DEFRA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Oliver Jackson
Phone: 0207 238 1822
oliver.jackson@defra.gsi.gov.uk