The first Waste Prevention Programme for England has been published by Defra, delivering on a commitment in the 2011 Government Review of Waste Policy in England.
The programme does not set waste reduction targets but does give key objectives (see below for objectives related to agriculture and the food industry).
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Government objectives:
On food waste, all central government departments are supporters of the Hospitality and Food Services Voluntary Agreement. As part of their support, government departments are producing implementation plans on how they will prevent food waste and how they will handle any food waste produced.
Government will continue to encourage businesses to take voluntary action to make their products and services more sustainable, through agreements like:
- The Courtauld Commitment, which aims to reduce household food and drink waste, reduce grocery ingredient, product and packaging waste in the supply chain and improve packaging design.
- The Hospitality and Food Service Agreement,19 which aims to cut food waste and associated packaging waste in the hospitality and food services sector.
The development of the Electronic Duty of Care, to be launched in January 2014. The move away from paper based Duty of Care waste transfer notes to an online, electronic system will reduce the administrative burden on businesses whilst halving the cost of record keeping.
The government will continue to support the work of WRAP to reduce food waste, through for example, Love Food Hate Waste. Consumers have also been targeted in the report to reduce food waste through the campaign.
The development of a Waste Prevention Programme is a requirement of the revised Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and takes forward a commitment in the Government Review of Waste Policy in England 2011. The revised Waste Framework Directive requires Member States to establish waste prevention programmes not later than 12 December 2013. The Waste Prevention Programme must be reviewed every six years.
To view a copy of the Waste Prevention Programme click here.
The NFU provided information to the Defra Waste Prevention Consultation earlier this year. For more information click here.