Clause 26 - Penalties under Chapter 1: general
Waste and Emissions Trading Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
Mr Norman Baker (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
I hear what the Minister says, but it would be helpful to have the word ''residual'' in front of ''waste'' in clause 31. A waste disposal authority might build an incinerator with a particular capacity as part of its waste plan, but the waste collection authorities that perform well in collection and
recycling could reduce the stream going to the incinerator. In such circumstances, there might not be enough waste to meet the contracted amount for the incinerator. What would the waste disposal authority do then? The authority would have to either pay the penalty, which would leave the taxpayer worse off as compensation would have to be paid to the incinerator operator, or import waste from outside the area to feed the incinerator. I do not want to see either solution. Increasing recycling has a downside in both senses.