§ Baroness Howeof Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 10 October (WA 87–88), what arrangements have been made for work in research and education on waste disposal. [HL4941]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Following last year's report by the Cabinet Office's Strategy Unit(Waste not, Want not), a number of strategic measures are being implemented to encourage the development of more sustainable approaches to waste management. The need for a robust research programme was one of the main findings of the Strategy Unit report and a new team is being established in Defra to drive forward this work.
The research team will, among other things, review existing research on waste and develop and implement a 3-year waste research strategy. It will be assisted in this task by a new stakeholder advisory group which it is setting up. The team will also set up an accessible central database of research projects.
The Strategy Unit report also recognised that increased participation in recycling schemes, and public understanding of the issues and their role, would be essential if the UK is to meet targets for recycling and diversion of waste from landfill.
Defra has provided the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) with funding to start work on a Waste Awareness Programme to increase public awareness of waste and recycling.
WRAP is providing some funding for the Rethink Rubbish waste awareness campaign in England which will enable it to continue its current work.