Firms blamed over waste

Efforts to cut the amount of rubbish generated in the UK should focus on businesses rather than householders, a Lords committee has said. Lord O'Neill, who chaired the Lords Science Sub-Committee on Waste Reduction, said: "There has been an impressive increase in recycling of domestic waste in the last few years but that only represents a tiny fraction of all waste generated in the UK. "It is time for the Government to move its priorities from household waste to the far greater problem of industrial and commercial waste. "We would also like to see the VAT regime reformed so that products that have a long life cycle or can be easily and cheaply repaired rather than replaced are made economically more attractive. "This would be an important step in turning away from the 'throwaway' culture we currently have." The Lords called for a "more holistic approach" to reducing waste, with targets changed to allow local authorities to provide support and facilities for businesses to cut waste. The Government should lead the way in making waste reduction the priority, in order to encourage businesses to take responsibility for and invest in reducing their waste, the Lords said. Waste Minister Joan Ruddock said it was wrong to suggest the Government was "over-focused" on individuals when it came to waste. She said: "The landfill tax escalator specifically targets business and commerce as high waste producers. We have a big programme of engagement with business and have invested over £650 million in the last three years to establish best practice and help organisations and the public adopt less wasteful behaviour. "Our focus now is to provide the evidence business needs to drive change and realise the financial benefits this brings, but we are not in the business of long-term subsidy."

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ITN | August 20, 2008

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