WRAP Cymru urges Welsh businesses to have their say
10 March 2011
The consultation, published today 10 March, is part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy towards Zero Waste for Wales. It identifies opportunities for Welsh businesses to reduce their waste costs and boost jobs in the recycling and processing industries by increasing the amount of material which is processed in Wales. Today Environment Minister, Jane Davidson AM said; "I want Wales to be a world leader in resource management, and I want Welsh councils, Welsh businesses and Welsh workers to benefit from being a high recycling society. Our plans are based on evidence, not ideology; they combine legislation – in the form of statutory targets – with an expectation that councils will work closely with the Assembly Government to develop the most sustainable and cost-effective recycling services.”
As part of their technical support to the Assembly Government, WRAP Cymru commissioned a report[i]which assesses the impact of the proposed changes. It highlights substantial potential cost savingsby moving towards the targets set in Towards Zero Waste.
Financial projections were made of the effect of achieving two of the key targets; a 70% recycling target in Wales by 2025 and 1.5% pa waste reduction target. These projections were compared with the cost meeting existing statutory Waste Framework and Landfill Directive recycling and landfill diversion targets and suggest that investment in collection and treatment infrastructure would lead to a reduction in public and private sector costs, compared to 2010, which could rise to £88 million a year by 2025.
With such significant savings and the wider economic benefits available in Wales Beth Winkley, Head of WRAP Cymru said; “It is imperative that Welsh businesses and local authorities take the opportunity to comment upon the Collections, Infrastructure and Markets sector plan. Wales is leading the way in shaping a waste and recycling infrastructure to move towards the one Wales one planet vision set out in Towards Zero Waste. The informed views of business in Wales will be vital to making sure that this plan is robust and relevant to them and provides a firm basis for action.”
