Herbert: Defra failing on waste policy
9 June 2009
Responding to the launch of Defra’s ‘Packaging Strategy’, Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert said:
“While the Government claims success, the truth is that the amount of packaging has increased every year for the past decade. They say they will lead from the front through public procurement, yet Defra's own recycling rate is below the national average. They say they will increase recycling rates, but an end to land-filling rotting rubbish is further away because Defra has been too slow to develop alternative waste facilities.”
“Hilary Benn thinks you can have a 'war on waste' by publishing another consultation document. What we need is a policy which drives the use of waste as a resource for materials and energy. With such poor leadership, it is no wonder that Britain still lags so far behind our European partners in finding greener ways to deal with waste.”