Collecting rubbish - at a cost

24 May 2006

The feasibility of charging householders for the amount of residual waste they produce is to be explored by the Welsh Assembly, in plans outlined in the province’s new environment strategy.
The programme also reveals the forthcoming national transport strategy, due to go out to consultation next week, will be focused on cutting road transport’s contribution to Wales’ estimated 46M tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The 20-year plan aims to make landfilling and incinerating waste without energy recovery an option of ‘last resort’, and to reduce the quantity of municipal waste produced per person each year over the next two decades.
Key to this is both the possible waste charge – to be scoped and consulted on, prior to the assembly government seeking powers under the new Government of Wales Bill – and the ‘regional capital access fund’ for new waste management facilities. Local authorities will be invited to bid by September.
‘Only’ 18% of waste was recycled or composted in 2003/04, the document states. While a good proportion of the 6M tonnes of construction waste is already recycled, ‘more needs to be done’.
Reducing road transport’s contribution to carbon dioxide emissions – which currently stand at 17% of the 46M tonnes Wales produces – and reducing the impact of transport, in terms of noise and light pollution and habitat fragmentation, will be contained in the new Wales transport strategy. As part of this, the Welsh Assembly wants to increase the number of people walking to work from the current 11%, and to increase the percentage of the total lengths of footpaths and rights of way that are easy to use over the next decade. The overall CO₂ reduction target is 20% by 2020.
Welsh environment minister, Carwyn Jones launching the strategy, said: ‘Our environment underpins our health, economy and quality of life, but there is mounting evidence that our actions are pushing natural systems beyond their ability to cope. ‘Tackling climate change is a central theme. There is overwhelming evidence that climate change is occurring, and that the consequences are potentially very serious. The strategy sets out our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.’
Also outlined in an action plan accompanying the broadbrush strategy is a plan to ‘take action to remove structural barriers to the uptake of sustainable urban drainage systems’, with a report to be produced by next year.
A climate change adaptation strategy – to ensure that Wales is prepared for the inevitable climate change due to occur over the next 30-40 years – will address the increased flood risk to roads and transport services.
Local environmental quality will be tackled in a new national drive, with new measures promised to be implemented by September 2007 to combat litter, fly-tipping, graffiti and abandoned cars

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