Democracy on trial!
Throughout 2024 in excess of 80 countries, encompassing more than half the world’s population, are going or have already gone to the polls. With extremists or disruptors challenging the status quo in many nations, some commentators position this year as democracy’s greatest test.
The 2024 UK general election is certainly highly anticipated. International tensions are worryingly high, and in many quarters the national mood regarding domestic issues is one of discontent. It increasingly looks like there is an appetite for a change of government.
According to pollsters, the Labour Party looks to be the pole sitter, but even a casual observer of elections will know that opinion polls are fickle, and it is folly to draw any outright conclusions, other than surmise that change is likely.
With the prospect of a change of government, what could this mean for waste management should the Labour Party hold a parliamentary majority that puts it in charge of the agenda after the election?
It should all be in the manifesto of course…
As with all political parties, any vision for holding the reins of power centres on manifesto pledges. Unfortunately, there are significant risks attached to making promises ahead of an election. Primarily, picking holes in pledges is used by the opposition as a means of attack, and secondly, good ideas from opposition parties can be hijacked and put into action by the incumbent government.
Ultimately, whatever party is in power, it needs to fund its plans. There is an overriding need to shore up the public purse, and as a consequence, much of the pre-election manoeuvring about what a future government is going to do to finance its intentions centres on tax reforms and welfare matters, such as benefits, the NHS and social care.
Consequently, this drowns out any significant detail about Labour’s plans for climate change and the environment. We can, however, look in general terms.
Ditched: Annual plan for £28bn of green spending
Inevitably, the future direction of waste management sits within Labour’s green investment spending budgets. At the Labour Party annual conference in 2021 this pledge made headline news: A Labour government would put up to £28bn of capital investment towards the transition to a green economy for each year of this decade.
Needless to say this has since been reigned in, blamed on deteriorating finances in part due to economic setbacks precipitated by the Truss government. Updates to green investment plans in February 2024 now say Labour would invest less than £5 billion a year on green projects.
One key target for Labour remains clean power by 2030. This is to provide energy security, attract private investment and secure jobs for the future, an important aspiration that is certain to hoover up much of the funding that is available. But where does that leave everything else?
Public support for more comprehensive DRS
In the focus area of waste management, Labour’s long term policy is to achieve zero waste by 2050. This would minimise landfill and maximise reuse of glass, plastic and minerals, driving the UK towards the goal of a circular economy. This harmonises with the aspirations of comparably wealthy EU nations like Belgium and the Netherlands.
It was a necessity for Labour to row back from the £28bn investment figure; but any failure to properly fund a comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) nationwide would be to let fiscal caution undermine noble ambition. Research shows there is considerable public opinion supporting increased investment in such a scheme. In the wider war for environmental protection this represents a relatively easy campaign win, like picking a low hanging fruit.
Polls commissioned through Yonder and YouGov show clear majority support among the general public for any DRS to include glass and aluminium as well as plastic drinks containers. It is interesting to note how a YouGov poll shows there is a significant gap between the views of MPs and the people who vote them in!
EPR complex but circular economy within reach
Making producers financially liable for the waste their products generate through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) may seem a logical way forward. However, there are some obstacles. It is difficult to ensure EPR is implemented fairly and consistently, and it is unhelpful to load more costs onto businesses at a time when recent rises are still being absorbed and some continue to escalate.
In key areas such as infrastructure and utilities, the idea of relying on market forces to regulate economic sectors is seen as a failed gambit. Consequently, Labour favours an interventionist approach. So, when it comes to waste management, one way to sidestep the complexity that EPR invites is to make a market intervention in the shape of banning problematic materials.
Whatever the barriers to EPR, the goal of the circular economy remains within reach. Environmental Services Association (ESA) members, representing the UK’s waste and secondary resources industry, are poised to deliver more than £10bn of investment in new British circular economy infrastructure and services in the next decade. This would be boosted by investment from others outside the sector. However, the sector needs a stable, long-term, policy framework to underpin and green light this investment.
Policy, investment and Whitespace waste management technology
Whoever holds the reins of power, once questions of policy and investment are settled, it is highly likely that technology is a factor in achieving the objectives for waste management. Quite simply, tech is a critical enabler for delivering efficiency and improvements and reaching ambitious targets.
Whitespace possesses exemplary expertise and experience of consulting, designing and implementing technology, working with the waste management industry and local authorities to provide highly efficient municipal services.
Whether it is back-end fleet management, in-cab systems to help crews deliver more efficient collection and cleansing, or better engagement and communications through the Whitespace Resident App, we can help.
Whitespace partners with over 100 local authorities to help deliver efficient high quality environmental services. To find out more about Whitespace Municipal Waste Management solutions, please get in touch by calling us on +44 (0)1483 231 650 or emailing us at info@whitespacews.com