Devon's 'ambitious' plan to hit the current UK average waste level by 2030

The latest version of the 'Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay' has just been approved by Teignbridge Council which will see each person expected to reduce how much they put in the bin to 400kg by 2030.

The target is actually the current average waste thrown away per person in the UK.

The document, which can be seen here, reveals there were 214 responses to a consultation, which concludes: "Some were keen on stretching the proposed targets for reducing, reusing and recycling. It is considered, however, that the targets are already ambitious."

Officials were originally look at a target of 416kg, which is higher than the current UK average waste - but reduced it to 400kg.

According to recyclingbins.co.uk: "The average person in the UK throws away around 400kg of waste each year; seven times their body weight."

Councillor Alistair Dewhirst, the Deputy Leader of the Council and and Executive Member for Recycling, Household Waste and Environmental says the target is for 'the whole of Devon' and he expected 'individual councils, such as Teignbridge, to do better.

The report added: "Many of the points made regarding packaging should be addressed in the Government’s 'Extended Producer Responsibility' proposals whereby producers of packaging will pay for its recycling and disposal thereby incentivising producers to reduce their packaging and/or increase its recyclability.

"The proposed tax on plastic with less than a 30% recycled content should also drive down the production of virgin plastic products and encourage recycling."

To read the full report click here or to watch the webcast (of item 6) click here

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