Briefing note: The Resources and Waste Strategy Reforms

In this briefing note we detail some of our major concerns that arise from the three recent Defra waste service design consultations on consistency in recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility, and the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme.

The DCN is committed to providing a sustainable waste system and agrees with the collection of the identified core set of recyclable materials. However, we wish to see an approach that truly focusses on waste minimisation across the whole system, and one that recognises the importance of Local Government input and discretion in delivering these services that are so determined by local context.

We consider that many of the current proposals will not truly address prevention of waste in a fair manner, greatly remove local control, and are unfeasible given the timelines and costs involved.