Welsh Waste Measure Given Green Light

4 November 2010

The National Assembly for Wales passed legislation on Tuesday introducing legally binding recycling and composting targets for 2012/13, making Wales the first country in the UK to introduce statutory recycling targets for local authorities.

The Welsh Assembly Government was granted greater autonomy over waste and resources management under the Environmental Legislative Competence Order 2010 granted Royal Assent in February.

Wales is already one of only three countries in the world with a statutory duty towards sustainability. Every local authority has met every target under the Landfill Allowances Scheme, resulting in a 39 percent reduction in the amount biodegradable waste going to landfill between 2005/06 and 2009/10.

The legislation forms part of a waste measure introduced last February, and gives Wales the power to implement statutory targets as set out in Wales' strategy Towards Zero Waste, published in June 2010.

Towards Zero Waste sets targets of:

2012/13 52 percent

2015/16 58 percent

2019/20 64 percent

2024/25 70 percent

The eventual target of 70 percent recycling by 2025 will, according to the Welsh Assembly Government, mean an overall saving of £38m and a 23 percent reduction in Wales' ecological footprint associated with municipal waste.

The measure also includes three other proposals: to make regulations over fees and charging for site waste management plans; powers to introduce landfill bans for specific materials; and, powers to require retailers to donate net profits from the sale of single-used carrier bags to environmental causes, if a voluntary agreement with retailers is not successful.

Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson, who laid the measure before the National Assembly in February, said: "Seventy percent recycling makes good economic sense. It means a saving of £38m, more jobs, lower landfill taxes and fines, and greater opportunities for councils to make money from selling valuable materials.

"We have already seen how successful statutory targets can be in keeping biodegradable waste out of landfill. I believe that just as every local authority in Wales has met every one of these landfill targets then every local authority in Wales can - and will - meet the statutory recycling targets."