SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
APPROVES REGIONAL WASTE PLAN

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS AGREED THE REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY at its meeting in Winchester on Wednesday 19 November. This is a major step forward in tackling the vast waste problem that the region is facing.

The Strategy promotes managing waste as close to its source as possible and in a self-sufficient way. This means green belt sites will need to be considered. Tougher targets for recycling and composting, energy from waste and diversion of waste from landfill have been set in the Strategy. Recycling targets for household waste have been increased from 35 to 40 percent by 2010 with an increase from 45 to 50 percent by 2015. It also sets targets to reduce the growth in waste amounts and to adopt more sustainable construction techniques.

The Assembly members gave their assent to the Strategy after some debate about using green belts and in exceptional circumstances Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for new waste facilities. A majority voted to maintain the policy, as it is necessary in order to encourage the provision of enough waste facilities in the region.

Next Steps
The Strategy will officially be submitted to the Government for the South East with proposed alterations to the Regional Planning Guidance for waste in March 2004. The proposed alterations were prepared by the Assembly, taking into account technical advice from the South East Regional Technical Advisory Body for Waste (SERTAB) and responses from the public and stakeholders between March and June 2003. The public examination into the Strategy will take place in summer 2004 and proposed changes are expected at the end of 2004.

Paul Bevan, Chief Executive at the South East England Regional Assembly, commented after the plenary meeting: "Now that the full Assembly has agreed the Regional Waste Management Strategy we can continue with the consultation process and make real progress. There is a real urgent need to tackle the region’s waste problem and new waste management facilities need to be developed quickly, as by 2010 the landfill sites will be running out."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007