Welsh businesses urged to do more on waste

Welsh minister for the Environment and Sustainability, Jane Davidson, is urging business to do more to reduce waste and divert rubbish from landfill.


The minister was speaking at the Insource Energy plant near Newport to mark the launch of the consultation on Food Manufacture, Service and Retail Sector plan for waste.

This is the third in a series of plans which set out the waste reduction framework for Wales. Wales has a target to recycle 70% of waste by 2025 and achieve zero waste by 2050.

This plan will addresses waste from businesses such as food manufacturers, shops and the service sector, which accounts for 40% of Wales’ commercial and industrial waste. Ms Davidson urged them to get involved in the consultation to help shape policy.

She said: “It is important that the burden of reducing food and packaging waste does not rest solely with householders.

“The food manufacture, service and retail sectors together generate 40% of our industrial and commercial waste, while food waste has the largest ecological footprint; accounting for 30 % of the total ecological footprint for industrial and commercial waste.”

The plan proposes a reduction of waste of 1.2% annually through businesses encouraging their suppliers to use less packaging, use recyclable materials and treating food waste through anaerobic digestion (AD).

The Welsh government wants to develop AD as the primary method of dealing with food waste. Wales put £34 million into the development of food waste collection between 2009 and 2011 and 80% of homes now benefit from this service.

Alison Brown

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