Regard must be had to the need to give effect to the polluter pays principle, in financing the provision of waste services by or on behalf of local authorities. The October 1998 policy statement on waste, Changing our Ways, strongly advocates that local authorities move rapidly towards full cost recoupment for the waste services which they provide by means of use-related waste charges levied on all waste producers, including households and commercial-business concerns.
Within this overall context, the Government will directly support the delivery of improved waste management services and infrastructure. Some £650 million is earmarked for capital investment in the development of waste management infrastructure under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. Of this, some £100 million in EU Exchequer funding will be provided to support the development of requisite waste recovery infrastructure over the life of the plan.
It is the intention to expand upon the policy issues and guidance outlined in Changing our Ways with the publication this year of another policy statement focusing on waste minimisation, recycling and recovery generally. This will outline the scope of measures to be undertaken in the interests of a sustained improvement in our recycling performance.
