CIWM’s recent annual conference in Torbay explored the tensions between meeting demanding waste targets and dealing with the realities of local and national politics, as Catherine Park explains Planning permission difficulties and public perceptions have been identified as two of the key areas holding councils back from developing and implementing truly sustainable waste policy, members of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management were told at their recent conference. Speakers at the ‘Political realities’ session discussed the types of situation that could arise when seeking to develop a facility in line with waste strategy requirements. Cllr Paula Baker, deputy chair of the LGA environment board, cited the case of a proposed energy-from-waste facility in Chinham which was to be located on the site of a previous incinerator. Local residents could not accept that Environment Agency emission controls had been significantly tightened since the previous facility was operational. Emotive health fears were raised and stakeholders said they were not aware of consultations that had taken place. She felt that a number of lessons could be learned from this experience. Consultation had taken place when the facility was originally proposed, but this was some time before the planning application phase began. The consultation process was, therefore, not as effective as it could have been, because some of the stakeholders had indeed changed by this point. While the Environment Agency had explained how emission levels had decreased, Cllr Baker felt this was not particularly meaningful in its own right, and that it would have been useful to compare these with more concrete, familiar examples such as bonfires and cigarettes. Cllr Julie Sturrock, convener of environmental services and sustainability at Dundee City Council, said it would be more helpful to the public’s understanding if these facilities were described as power stations and not incinerators. She described how, in one case, journalists and residents had been taken to see an energy-from-waste plant in Sweden so they could experience what such a facility would be like in reality. Cllr Richard Parry Hughes, planning and environment spokesperson for the Welsh LGA, made the point that difficulties were not limited to incinerators. The public objected to all kinds of developments, even civic amenity sites. He stressed the importance of both officers and councillors having a better understanding of modern facilities and technologies, so that it was easier to sell the benefits to the public. The session generally highlighted a lack of understanding among the public of waste and the sustainable resource agenda. There was still considerable resistance to losing weekly refuse bag collections in favour of alternate week collections for different types of waste. Speakers were cautious about the concept of weight-based charging for waste services. Such systems might disadvantage poorer families without cars who could not take waste to civic amenity and bring sites. Local authorities would also have to gear up to deal with a potential increase in illegal activities, such as fly-tipping. It was suggested that a discount for good performance might be viewed more positively. Cllr Baker summarised the LGA perspective which was that local authorities should be given the power to introduce direct charging, but this should be at their own discretion to take into account specific local conditions. More than 80% of delegates at the session felt it would be a positive move if councils were free to introduce weight-based charging or incentives, in some form or other. The session clearly illustrated that, while attitudes and practices in relation to waste were undergoing significant change, there was still some way to go before there was a truly-effective partnership between national and local government and the general public in tackling current challenges. n Catherine Park is communications manager, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
