UK National Audit Office criticises DEFRA on waste reduction

The UK's National Audit Office’s (NAO) Gareth Davies says the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not have 'effective long-term plans' for achieving ambitions to reduce waste.

The report says DEFRA must now establish firmer foundations for its work on resources and waste.

Furthermore, it says it should develop a coherent approach to securing its ambitions across the waste management sector, rather than relying primarily on a project-by-project perspective.

In addition, the report states it needs to address weaknesses in the reforms that are in progress and build on these lessons to set up future waste projects and programmes more effectively.

'DEFRA does not have effective long-term plans for how it will achieve its ambitions for reducing waste, and there has been delay to its implementation of reforms.

'DEFRA must now establish a clear and coherent plan for its work on waste and resources, addressing the weaknesses in the reforms already in progress. If DEFRA takes these steps, it will be in a much stronger position to achieve its ambitions.” Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO says on the release of The government’s resources and waste reforms for England.

The report examines whether DEFRA is on track to achieve its resources and waste ambitions “in a way that represents value for money”.

The report highlights the fact the UK missed its 2020 recycling target after nearly a decade of stalled recycling rates and the main reforms it has taken forward so far, on collection and packaging, have been delayed.