Press Release -
Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Reducing the impact of
business waste through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste
Programme
5 March 2010
The amount of harmful business waste sent to landfill has
fallen, but it is not possible to say how much of this reduction is
down to a £240 million government programme, according to a
National Audit Office report published today. The NAO was unable to
conclude whether the spending was value for money because the
Department had not set specific, quantified targets for the
Programme and it lacked reliable information on performance.
The businesses that received support from the Programme’s
initiatives have reported benefits in terms of both cost and
environmental improvements, and there should be longer term gains.
The NAO’s survey of businesses found low awareness of the services
available under the Programme. The Department does not accept that
awareness was low, however, as the take-up was broadly comparable
to another similar scheme. There has been no evaluation of the
Programme to date.
The amount of business waste sent to landfill fell during the
period of the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme but
most of this reduction related to construction, excavation and
demolition waste which is less harmful to the environment. It is
difficult to determine the extent to which the Programme, as
opposed to other factors such as the increase in landfill tax and
the recession, has reduced the amount of waste sent to
landfill.
Commercial and industrial waste is more likely to generate
harmful greenhouse gas, but the amount sent to landfill fell by
only 2.3 million tonnes (11 per cent) between 2005 and 2008. Given
this rate of progress, the Department may not meet its expectation,
set in 2007, of a 20 per cent reduction by 2010, the NAO warns.
The Department’s approach to tackling business waste is not as
developed as its approach to dealing with municipal waste, where
there are binding targets in place. The Department does not have up
to date information on how much business waste there is, or how
much is being recycled, which makes it difficult for it to target
its activities.
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said:
"There are indications that
the Programme has delivered some positive results: participating
businesses have reported benefits, and there should be further long
term gains in terms of reductions in business waste. However, the
low awareness of the Programme among businesses and the absence of
clear targets and reliable information to measure progress mean we
cannot say whether the Department achieved value for money from the
£240 million spent on the Programme."
Notes to Editors
- Business waste comprises commercial and industrial waste (76
million tonnes in 2006) and construction, demolition and excavation
waste (102 million tonnes). The Government introduced a landfill
tax in 1996 to encourage greater recycling and other methods of
disposal. When the tax rate was increased by £3 per tonne each
year between April 2005 and March 2007, part of this additional tax
revenue was ring-fenced to help the business community make more
efficient use of resources. This resulted in the Business Resource
Efficiency and Waste Programme.
- The Programme ran from March 2005 until April 2008 and cost
£240 million.
- Business waste represents over 60 per cent of England’s waste,
compared to municipal waste which is only 10 per cent.
- The total amount of business waste sent to landfill fell by 9.9
million tonnes (22 per cent) between 2005 and 2008. Of this, waste
from construction, excavation and demolition going to landfill fell
by 7.6 million tonnes and commercial and industrial waste by 2.3
million tonnes.
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Amyas Morse, is the head
of the National Audit Office which employs some 900 staff. He and
the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 14/10
All enquiries to Sarah Farndale, NAO Press
Office:
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