The Climate Change Bill

The Climate Change Bill, introduced into the House of Lords last year, underwent new amendments on 22 January. The Environmental Services Agency (ESA) is eager to show its support for the implementation of waste charging pilots outlined in the Bill.

ESA is the UK's trade association for companies providing waste and secondary resource management. The company's Chief Executive, Dirk Hazell, said: "Proposals in the Bill for piloting household waste minimisation incentive schemes could help householders to be more sustainable. ESA welcomes this further opportunity to make Britain a Recycling Society."

He added: "Judging by the volume of amendments tabled, peers on all sides of the House of Lords are interested in the Bill's waste provisions and we assume their intention is to improve rather than remove waste provisions in the Bill. ESA welcomes amendments to strengthen the pilot as we see force in the argument of Liberal Democrat and Conservative peers that both rural and urban areas should be assessed. We hope pilot waste charging projects soon become reality."

The Climate Change Bill's other objectives include: to set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions; to provide for a system of carbon budgeting; to establish a Committee on Climate Change; and to amend the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 about renewable transport fuel obligations.