The strategic solid waste management research agenda in England (2004-2007) - implications for evidence based policy formulation in developing economies

The reform of the UK Landfill Tax Credit Scheme in November 2002 enabled funding to be available for a more strategic approach to sustainable waste management in England. In response to recommendations made by the Strategy Unit (England) in Wastes Not Want Not (November 2002), a new programme was announced that would be delivered by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) has a number of strands, a central one being a Waste Research Team (WRT) that oversees the implementation of the programme; this is advised by the Wastes and Resources Research Advisory Group (WRRAG) that is charged with developing the research strategy for England (2004-2007). The present European Drivers are central to the planing of WRRAG as they impact upon every aspect of present policy in the UK. To develop an effective strategy, WRRAG have consulted widely with a range of key players, organisations and have eventually produced a strategy with 8 key themes; this will be directly funded by some £15 million Central Government funds but will synergise with a whole raft of alternative funding sources. The development of a sustainable waste management research strategy for England has a number of key lessons for developing countries where policy may still be based upon historic practice rather than the accurate scientific information that is required. The UK strategy emphasises the need for central funding to create dynamic new partnerships to inform the research agenda and to deliver best practice. This has been empathised repeatedly as a requirement for developing economies. Such new alliances can impact strongly upon quality of life and enable the most appropriate waste management technologies to be selected as evidence based institutions emerge. Only through structured partnership is it possible to develop strategies that deal with issues ranging from industrial waste to MSW in small towns and most importantly, the formulation of the correct goals and perspectives.