توصیه های کلیدی برای سیاست مدیریت تصمیم گیرندگان مواد زائد: یک مطالعه موردی از فرصتهای آینده و امکانات زباله های غیر شهری در انگلستان

This research identifies the barriers (e.g. planning) and drivers for the development of new non-municipal wastes management facilities in Northamptonshire, an English County in the East Midlands of England. The aim of the research was to give guidance to policy makers and planners at all levels so as to enable them to make informed decisions for the selection of sites for new facilities. This is key within England as public opposition to the siting of new facilities has meant that political decision-makers often fail to take a clear stand and follow sound scientific and technical advice. England therefore has a major problem in siting of new facilities to enable them to meet European-led targets by 2010. Key recommendations are given as to how decision-makers can move forward by carefully selecting sites well in advance of planning applications and so avoid the public opposition that often occurs.

The waste strategy for England (Defra, 2007) lays out a bold and vigorous vision whereby reliance on landfill, for a range of wastes, is reduced markedly under EU-led targets. In particular, emphasis is given to stimulating investment in waste treatment and the corresponding treatment technology options for a given waste stream. The role of local authorities is re-emphasised with a new agenda developing, whereby they are to be more heavily involved in business waste and to work closely with their partner Regional Development Agencies. Key to this new strategy is the development of the Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme (WIDP) (Defra, 2007) which has been designed to aid local authorities. WIDP will provide high-level guidance to local authorities as they plan their procurement strategy for waste treatment facility capacity. WIDP in particular will seek to build upon the opportunities to achieve synergy between municipal solid waste (MSW) and other waste treatment. It will seek to achieve a step change in moving local authorities from focussing almost exclusively upon MSW to an organisation that takes a holistic view of the needs of waste treatment/processing in its given area. The formation of WIDP is in part a response to recent key reports from the Office of Government Commerce (2006) and Office of Fair Trading (2006). Land-use planning (HM Treasury, 2006) for facilities has become a key issue in England as previously, prolonged disputes in the proceedings, have meant that waste management facilities have taken an inordinate amount of time to be completed and come on stream. Planners need to identify potential sites well in advance of commencement of the planning process as this way they can work closely with local communities to defuse public objection. As England needs to reach key Landfill Directive targets by 2010 (Defra, 2007), new cost effective facilities need to be introduced rapidly (Mayor of London, 2004). England and its regions needs to move quickly towards adopting the best practice found in case studies from many European countries (SLR, 2005).

This research identifies the barriers (e.g. planning) and drivers for the development of new wastes management facilities in Northamptonshire, an English County in the East Midlands of England. The aim of the research was to give guidance to policy makers and planners at all levels so as to enable them to make informed decisions for the selection of sites for new facilities. This is key within England as public opposition to the siting of new facilities has meant that political decision-makers often fail to take a clear stand and follow sound scientific and technical advice. Eight key recommendations are given as to how decision-makers can move forward by carefully selecting sites well in advance of planning applications and so avoid the public opposition that often occurs. These include: developing accurate data sources for Northamptonshire; improved system of targets for region; focusing upon centralised development patterns; exploiting synergies between economic development and waste management; support-specific opportunities for self-sufficiency in County; integrate planning for MSW and non-MSW facilities; develop a clear action plan. The final and most important element of the recommendations is that the best practice developed here needs to be rolled out across the rest of the region in a concerted pattern supported by the Development Agency.