Household recycling rates have failed to improve for more than 10 years
Household recycling rates have failed to improve for more than ten years, a watchdog says today.
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) concluded that long-term waste management plans “do not yet exist” despite ministers publishing a strategy four years ago.
It said household recycling rates have remained at around 43-44% since 2011-12, with the Government having missed its target for households to recycle 50% of their waste by 2020.
The NAO said ministers’ waste management strategy, published in 2018, was “the most significant statement” from the Government on plans to improve recycling rates and reduce waste since 2007.
But it said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) “still lacks effective long-term plans to reduce waste which contributes to climate change”.
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The watchdog found the government "lacks effective long-term plans to reduce waste" (Getty Images)It said this was making it “increasingly difficult” for businesses to prepare for investment and regulatory changes that will be needed to achieve the Department's long-term plans.
One example the NAO gave of “Defra's insufficient planning” included its failure to eliminate waste at the source.
The report acknowledged “some progress” including the Government’s deposit return scheme which aims to reduce litter from drinks containers.
However, it added, the effectiveness of the scheme is uncertain and Defra does not currently have plans to trial the scheme.
The NAO said Defra recognises that it has more to do, noting that in January this year the department committed to publishing a new programme for minimising waste.
But it added Defra does not know what or when decisions about new interventions need to be made to ensure realistic timeframes for design, testing and implementation.
To improve Defra's plans to achieve its targets, the NAO recommends the Department develop “a clear outline path to achieving all of its resource and waste ambition”.
It also said it must figure out the likely cost implications of different policy options, as well as proactively engage with stakeholders.
Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: "Reducing waste is critical to reducing emissions and achieving some of government's wider environmental goals, but Defra does not have effective long term plans for how it will achieve its ambitions for reducing waste, and there has been delay to its implementation of reforms.
"Defra must now establish a clear and coherent plan for its work on waste and resources, addressing the weaknesses in the reforms already in progress. If Defra takes these steps, it will be in a much stronger position to achieve its ambitions."
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A Defra spokesman said: “We have carefully considered the recommendations of the report and they will inform our approach as we continue to deliver on our environmental ambitions.”
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