WLGA welcomes waste management funding
16 February 2009
Responding to Jane Davidson announcement yesterday of additional resources to support sustainable waste management in Wales, Cllr Aled Roberts, WLGA Spokesperson for Environment, Sustainability and Housing said:
“The WLGA welcomes this latest announcement on waste management funding from Welsh Assembly Government. Welsh local government identified many years ago that additional resources would be needed. As waste is a joint national and local issue we would need to work together to put an appropriate funding structure in place to ensure that we deliver the challenging targets that have been set.
Yesterday’s funding announcement relates to the procurement and provision of food waste treatment facilities with Welsh Assembly Government preferring anaerobic digestion (AD) technology to be used. This technology, whilst relatively new in Wales is not new in Europe and offers us the chance to ensure that food that is thrown away is treated in the most environmentally friendly way. Indeed the use of AD allows us to generate renewable electricity and create fertiliser that can be used on land, thus helping us solve more than the waste problem.
The funding package is for local authorities that are about to embark on the procurement process. We must also praise our local authorities who have already invested in food waste treatment capacity. We recognise that this might not be the preferred technology of Welsh Assembly Government at the moment, but it is recognised that these innovative local authorities have assisted Welsh target achievement to date. These plants will have their role in the municipal waste infrastructure in Wales for the foreseeable future.
However, we must give a strong message to the public that there must still be a focus on reducing the amount of waste that is thrown out in the first place. Research by WRAP demonstrated that on average a Welsh household throws away approximately £400 a year on food. This isn’t just unwanted left-overs, but fresh foods such as fruit and bread – foods that could have been eaten. There will always be elements from the kitchen that have to be collected, but we need a concerted, joint effort to ensure that when we invest in these facilities, with this funding support from the Welsh Assembly Government, that they are fit for purpose and that we don’t simply allow things to be thrown away as it is a waste of valuable resources and money”.
Ends