Budget cuts by the government in the line of fire

The planned budget cut for DEFRA’s funding to the Waste and Resources Action Programme has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats who have cautioned that it will impede endeavours to promote composting.

The Environment Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Martin Horwood called the Government’s plan to reduce Waste and Resources Action Programme’s budget by twenty five per cent outrageous, arguing that it needs to assist households and business organisations in composting of food waste. Martin Horwood further wondered how citizens were expected to deal with food waste when the Government was reducing the budget to the body charged with the responsibility of confronting the challenges of food waste.

Waste and Resources Action Programme has already said that composting will be impacted by the slashing of its funding for the present financial year. In the previous financial year the Waste and Resources Action Programme received 59.3 million pounds in funding from DEFRA while this present financial year it will only get 43.22 million pounds.

A spokesperson from the Waste and Resources Action Programme admitted that as a result of the decreased funding which would negatively impact on the Home Composting Programme, the fees charged to households for bins and accessories would have to be raised as well. The spokesperson further said that the Waste and Resources Action Programme had consulted with councils and some had been able to maintain the low fees by offering a local subsidy which varied from one local authority to another. The spokesperson further revealed that some of the local authorities were meeting all the costs.

www.defra.gov.uk