DEFRA
Defra promotes sustainable development as the way forward for Government and has 5 strategic priorities under this overarching aim:
- Climate change and energy.
- Sustainable consumption and production.
- Protecting the countryside and natural resource protection.
- Sustainable rural communities.
- A sustainable farming and food sector.
Defra is the lead Government Department with regards to environmental issues and is responsible for policy making in the fields of environmental protection, waste management and sustainable development. Defra also has responsibilities with regard to producer responsibility, alongside DTI.
Defra sponsors many large scale Programmes to progress the move towards sustainable development, such as the MTP, BREW and WRAP. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body of Defra.
Defra's website is a valuable resource for waste management information, including information on waste management policy, legislation and regulation, waste minimisation, recycling and reuse, and waste disposal. Defra also provides funding to local authorities to assist in achieving aims and objectives of regional waste strategies, as well as national targets.
The main policy/strategy documents produced by Defra which guide the policy on waste management are:
- Waste Strategy 2000 for England and Wales
- Waste Strategy 2007 for England
- Waste Strategy Annual Progress Report 2007/08
The review of the waste strategy (consultation ended 9th May 2006) identified two new policy instruments to improve resource efficiency of construction, including compulsory Site Waste Management Plans and the Code for Sustainable Homes.
A revised Waste Strategy was published in 2007, setting out the Government's vision for sustainable waste management and building upon the waste Strategy 2000
Defra's Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) produced the UK Government's sustainable development strategy, Securing The Future, in March 2005. This strategy document takes account of developments and new policies since the 1999 strategy. The strategy is built upon four priority areas: sustainable consumption and production, climate change and energy, natural resource protection and sustainable communities.
The strategy highlights key areas in relation to construction:
- Identifies a key role by the Office of Deputy Prime Minister (now Communities and Local Government) in delivering the strategy through promoting sustainable, high quality design and construction to reduce waste, improving resource efficiency and promoting more sustainable buildings.
- Stronger partnerships with key business sectors, including construction.
- Government to lead by example through sustainable procurement of construction services and products.
- Advocates the Code for Sustainable Buildings