England has an ambitious blueprint to turn the tide on pollution by 2050. We would have liked to see this happen sooner, but at least we are rowing in the right direction. Greater London is particularly taking strain in places like Beckenham and Mitcham. Let’s explore England’s ambitious waste plan and discover how we could help.
England’s Ambitious Waste Plan Unpacked
First, Michael Gove’s ambitious plan sets domestic waste and fly tipping within a broader canvas. That’s because his DEFRA document addresses “The air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we live on. Plus the resources driving our economy that carries us forward.”
We asked Jeffrey Avery to contribute a thought piece on the core issues of England’s ambitious waste plan. He was keen to do so, commenting how important the circular economy is to the next generation who will inherit Earth.
“The plan is for concerted action over the next 25 years,” he explains. “A strategy that includes stopping dumped household waste in its tracks. This has been an offence for decades. But I hope to see genuine offenders prosecuted more effectively in future.’
Jeffrey Avery Explains the Resource and Waste Strategy
Every square inch of England – including places like Mitcham and Beckenham I pass through regularly – will be part of an 8 point plan.
1… Ensure sustainable production throughout society.
2… Inspire consumers to consider their environment.
3… Recover all categories of waste and reprocess them.
4… Identify offenders, stop them and prosecute them.
5… Draw a line, take action to eliminate food waste.
6… Be a global leader in the fight to protect the environment.
7… Find new, innovative ways to achieve England’s strategy.
8… Measure progress, evaluate and report to stakeholders.
Ensuring Sustainable Production Throughout Society
The first portion of the program embraces the way we process Earth’s resources for our consumption. Waste products may contribute 80% of damage to the environment, including in places like Beckenham where the population is largely unaware. Offenders will be prosecuted in terms of the ‘polluter pays’ principle. DEFRA will also review existing legislation in terms of its effectiveness in preventing these crimes.
Inspiring Consumers to Consider Their Environment
Dumped household waste and fly tipping immediately spring to most people’s minds. However, there is more to this than just that. This is because this portion of the DEFRA program extends to incentivizing consumers to purchase more sustainably. But also making sure product labeling and certification help them to choose correctly. The final leg of this strategy bans problematic plastic products, and uses law enforcement where necessary.
Recovering All Categories of Waste and Reprocessing
Waste is an inevitable part of our life style. However, the third aspect of England’s ambitious waste plan seeks to manage this better. Therefore, DEFRA will (a) improve recycling rates including household waste, and (b) reduce greenhouse gases from landfills. But it does not stop there. It also aims to address barriers to reusing recycled materials.
Identifying Offenders, Stopping Them and Prosecuting
This one is close to my heart. My company Avery Associates provides a house clearance service throughout England and Wales. My teams often come across flying tipping and blatantly dumped household waste on their way to recycling sites. These waste criminals try to undercut me. It would do my heart good to see them prosecuted for dumping offences!
Drawing a Line, Taking Action to Eliminate Food Waste
Nobody likes to waste food! It’s expensive and our hearts reach out to refugee camps we see on television. Yet, believe it or not UK consumers waste 10 million tonnes of food and drink annually worth around £20 billion. Much of the blame apparently lies with food processing and consumption. So I’d love to see more enforcement there!
Becoming a Global Leader to Protect the Environment
I think this one is equally important. Because waste is a global problem that spins out into weather warming, and eventual climate change. England definitely needs to lead from the front with this. We have worldwide influence. Therefore, developing nations will listen if we practice what we preach.
Innovating to Achieve England’s Ambitious Waste Plan
This item is the key to the exercise from my viewpoint. That’s because we need move on from strategies that manifestly failed to deter the true perpetrators of fly tipping in England. Not to mention dumping household waste where decent folk live. The program is participative. If you have a practical suggestion why not submit it. Sitting and waiting for the government is simply no longer good enough!
Measuring Progress, Evaluating and Feedback
I look forward to seeing this program roll out further, and close in on repeat offenders who deliberately defile the English countryside. I shall personally monitor progress by observing what I see around me. Let’s move on from prosecuting innocent people who make genuine mistakes. It’s time to go after the repeat offenders who may become hardened criminals!
Jeffrey Avery – Avery Associates
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