Government consults on waste prevention programme for England

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Image by Shirley Hirst from Pixabay

A consultation examines a new Waste Prevention Programme for England that sets out priorities to manage resources and waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy, which includes preventing waste by increasing reuse, repair and remanufacture of products.

The Programme outlines the potential for, and benefits of, action on waste prevention, what industry is already doing and could do, as well as setting out actions for government.

Proposed measures in the consultation include:

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will use its new Environment Bill powers, subject to Parliamentary approval, to set design requirements for selected non-energy-related products.
  • The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), working with Defra, will launch a new energy-related products policy framework.
  • Take forward one or more pilot schemes linked to ecodesign and/or producer responsibility measures.
  • Working with industry and key stakeholders to develop principles and approaches relating to material usage and good product design.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is consulting to gather views on their proposals from those with an interest in their strategic goals: increasing resource efficiency and minimising waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and safeguarding natural capital and resource security.

Respondents have an opportunity to comment on Defra’s approach to waste prevention, whether they have identified the appropriate priority areas for action, and on the actions the government proposes to take.

The Devolved Administrations are responsible for producing their own Waste Prevention Programmes which, together with this draft Programme, will cover the whole of the UK.

More information about this consultation and how to take part is available on the DEFRA website.