The Welsh Assembly Government`s response to the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee`s Report on 'Meeting Landfill and Recycling Targets'

I commend the Committee for considering this important subject at this time.  

Waste management is the most pressing environmental issue facing Wales.  The Assembly Government is implementing the National Waste Strategy for Wales: Wise about Waste, which not only seeks to improve the sustainability of waste management in Wales, in line with our statutory duty to promote sustainable development, but also to meet our obligations under UK and EU legislation.

The main EU requirement addressed by the waste strategy is the need to meet the requirements of the Landfill Directive to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill in accordance with very strict criteria in the Directive.  The EPC Committee Report deals with these issues.  

The Assembly Government has been able to accept nearly all the recommendations that the Committee has made, indeed, in many cases the recommendations reflect current policy and activity.  Where we have not been able to accept a recommendation, the paper that I have presented to Plenary makes clear the reasons why.

The Assembly Government recognises that landfill capacity will reduce across Wales in the future.  However the policies that the Assembly Government has been implementing have already resulted in a reduction in the amount of municipal waste being sent to landfill reducing for each of the last two years.  There have also been reductions in the amount of industrial and commercial waste being sent to landfill, including hazardous waste.  It will be important to ensure that alternatives to landfill come into place and the Assembly Government is working with the Environment Agency and other stakeholders to ensure that these facilities are developed.  

We have provided local authorities with substantial financial support in recognition of the changes that they will have to make and we have provided clear direction through the mean of the Wales waste strategy.  We are also funding a material Action programme to assist businesses in Wales to reduce their waste and to manage it more sustainably.  We have also worked closely with a range of stakeholders in local government, the community sector, industry and more widely, and we will continue to do so.

I welcome the Committee’s report and I will continue to keep both the Committee and the Assembly as whole informed of developments in this important matter.

Check against delivery

Embargoed until after CARWYN JONES has delivered the statement.