The waste industry suffers from no shortage of awards and, especially this time of year, we seem to have plenty of opportunities to pause for a nice pat on the back. Is there really room for another award?
Well, there certainly is if it’s of the kind Friends of the Earth launched this April: the Talking Rubbish Award. Fed up with ministers propagating myths about waste and recycling, the environmental campaigning group encouraged the public to vote for the minister promoting the ‘biggest load of rubbish’: Eric Pickles, for insisting people live in constant fear of the ‘bin police’; Caroline Spelman, for saying that under the coalition, people won’t be taxed for their waste services (though they’ll still pay council tax); or Bob Neill, for implying fortnightly collections lead to smells, flytipping and vermin.
In the end, Pickles got his just deserts.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.