Assembly members in Wales were voting yesterday on a proposal which could see certain types of waste being banned or restricted from landfill. Councils could also be set legally-binding targets by ministers for composting and recycling, and be hit with penalties if the targets are missed.
Plastic carrier bags could also be charged for under the measures, as the assembly government believes waste management is “vital” to the future of Wales. Under the plans, ministers would ensure that any profits gained from the sale of carrier bags would be passed on to environmental projects. A proposed charge of 7p a bag is expected to be brought in by 2011.
Fees and charges could also be introduced for waste management plans in the demolition and construction sector as part of the measures put forward by environmental minister Jane Davidson in February.
At the time of introducing the plans, Davidson branded landfill as the most environmentally damaging option for waste. She said the new laws would significantly increase recycling rates and allow certain materials to be banned from landfill. She added that introducing a nationwide charge for carrier bags would help reduce both Wales’s ecological and carbon footprints.
|
|
