Well, where did that come from... six years on from the various promises and proposals of the 25 Year Environment Plan, November 2024 has been something of a landmark date for local authorities in seeing the introduction of the Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR) with a tidal wave of updates and information from DEFRA.
Firstly, whilst LARAC may not agree with its introduction at this time, the draft regulations for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) have been laid in parliament – albeit with a huge asterisk following Wales’s decision to exit the UK-wide scheme. LARAC’s response and position in relation to DRS can be read here.
More positively, the last week of November saw local authorities receive details of their expected Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees, and waves of guidance and clarification on Simpler Recycling in England. You can read LARAC’s press release on the EPR news here, and the Simpler Recycling news here. Whilst there’s plenty more work to do, and outcomes to come on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), Rethinking Our Resources in Northern Ireland, and other consultations, this feels as though it is the biggest step forward the introduction of these policies to date.
Away from the regulations, November saw a final surge of events for 2024. Two visits to the Coventry Transport Museum for the MRF and Collection conferences, complete with being invited to join a panel discussion on Simpler Recycling changes and their impact on collections. Also, the RDF Conference in London, and Health and Safety Conference in Birmingham. The latter of which was a highlight for me, with a mock trial and some BAFTA award winning acting by some of the LARAC exec!
Also, Lincolnshire County Council were kind enough to let me visit the FCC-operated Energy from Waste (EfW) facility just outside of Lincoln. A tour of the now 10-year-old facility and the milestones it has reached was great to see, and hopefully the new year will also see visits to the county’s new re-use shop in Tattershall, and maybe a couple of other facilities. I’ll be sure to report back next month!
What else will we see before 2024 ends? Well, the year’s not quite over, and LARAC will be speaking on the final DEFRA engagement forum of the year on 4 December. We also have one more webinar for members, Learning from Top-Performing Councils across the UK, later in the month.
But, as this is the last blog of the year from me, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – and hope to see November’s momentum and positivity carry on into 2025.
