Local authorities to team up to improve waste disposal

A new consultation paper recommends how neighbouring authorities should work together to boost recycling and cut costs

A consultation paper published by Defra last week aims to establish how groups of two or more local authorities should pool resources to improve waste management.

The publication of the paper follows the passing of The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, which ushered in powers that allow the creation of Joint Waste Authorities (JWAs).

The new paper sets out draft guidelines for how groups of authorities should collaborate when transferring their waste collection, disposal and street cleaning responsibilities to a JWA. Although governed by members of the constituent authorities, a JWA would become a separate public body able to form its own contracts and hire its own staff.

The consultation process will gather feedback on how JWAs should operate and be regulated. The consultation period will conclude in the middle of June.

“Joint working on waste is becoming increasingly important, to help authorities to invest in new, sustainable waste facilities more cost effectively,” said Joan Ruddock climate change and waste minister. “Authorities are already developing innovative ways of working with their neighbours to improve their waste services.”

Ruddock said JWAs could provide local authorities with an additional option for working together, allowing them to put their partnership on a statutory footing.

Earlier this month the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency (LDA) announced a four-year, £24m waste and recycling programme aimed at reducing the amount of London's waste being buried in landfill or burned in incinerators.

This summer the Mayor will appoint a Dragon's Den-style panel of waste, energy and financial experts “to deliver innovative, efficient waste and recycling facilities appropriate for London including those which use waste to create renewable energy and increase the capital's recycling reprocessing capacity”.

“London’s businesses and boroughs are currently choosing to bury and burn the capital's waste - dumping it in the home counties - whilst recycling rates lag behind the rest of the UK,” said Mayor Ken Livingstone. “This funding package of £24 million from the London Development Agency will accelerate the use of cleaner, greener recycling and treatment methods that are already being effectively used in Europe.”