Watchdog slams Defra's faltering business waste strategy

The government's business waste strategy has once again come under fire following the publication late last week of a highly critical report from the National Audit Office (NAO), which concluded that the department in charge lacked reliable information on the impact of its efforts to curb landfill waste.

Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said the analysis of the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affair's (Defra) £240m Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme found there was some evidence that the amount of business waste being sent to landfill had fallen.

But he added that it was impossible to calculate whether or not the scheme represented value for money because the department had failed to set specific targets for the programme and had not kept reliable data on its performance.

The report comes just weeks after a similarly damning report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of MPs, which concluded that the government had failed to develop a coherent strategy for tackling business waste, focusing much of its attention on household waste despite the fact it only accounts for about a tenth of the UK's waste streams.

Echoing the MPs' report, the NAO analysis said "the department's approach to tackling business waste is not as developed as its approach to dealing with municipal waste, where there are binding targets in place".

The report found the amount of commercial and industrial waste sent to landfill fell by only 11 per cent between 2005 and 2008, meaning the government may struggle to meet its target of a 20 per cent reduction on 2007 levels by 2010. It also said its survey of businesses had uncovered low awareness rates for the BREW programme's services, a conclusion disputed by Defra.

The NAO recommended the government impose targets for business waste, better integrate its business and municipal waste strategies, and improve engagement with businesses to make sure they are aware of available advisory support services.

A spokeswoman for Defra welcomed the NAO's report and said the department would consider its recommendations carefully as it develops its new strategy for addressing business waste. "We agree with the NAO that the programme delivered positive results, for example businesses have saved money and increased profits through the re-use of waste as a resource," she said. "Environmental benefits include greenhouse gas emission reductions, waste diverted from landfill and a reduction in the use of natural resources."

The government's business waste strategy has been mired in controversy since the government announced in 2008 that it was scrapping the programme, reneging on an agreement to ring-fence revenue raised through landfill taxes in order to increase spending on helping businesses reduce waste levels.

The government said it would aim to simplify waste services by consolidating activities under the WRAP advisory body. But the agency looks set to face swingeing budget cuts and industry insiders from across the waste and recycling sector remain deeply concerned that business services will be scaled back further after the election.