Meetings

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He knows the petitioner.

The Committee agreed that the Welsh Government’s announcement to introduce a moratorium on new large scale energy from waste plants is welcomed and further clarification regarding the process appreciated.

In light of the fact that the petitioner had no further issues to raise, the Committee agreed to close the petition and congratulate the petitioner on a successful outcome.

Joel James MS declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

He knows the petitioner.

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Climate Change to seek an update on this petition including:

• whether large scale incinerators currently being considered through the planning process for Developments of National Significance have been stopped and are also subject to the moratorium; and
• whether the planning Inspectorate will no longer accept future large-scale applications.

The Committee considered the correspondence received and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask for a response to the Committee’s previous request for a full reasoning as to why the Government feels that a moratorium on the development of new incinerators would not be appropriate at this time.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write back to the Minister to ask:

·         whether non–recyclable waste could be transported into Wales to support the viability of incinerators, as waste in Wales reduces and, if so, whether this would impact on the efforts to meet recycling targets;

·         whether the Welsh Government has seen any impact arising from the decision made by China to no longer accept the import of plastic waste for recycling; and

·         for a full reasoning as to why the Minister feels that a moratorium on the development of new incinerators would not be appropriate at this time.