Wasted: The green opportunity

The Engineering Employers' Federation has attacked the government's "confused and fragmented" waste management policies.

The group said incentives, such as grants or innovative new approaches, should be offered to companies to assist with the disposal of waste.

The EEF said there was "embarrassing" conflicts in government policy which are leading to confusion and inaction.

It says, for example, that the number of landfill sites which can cope with disused batteries has been reduced just before a new directive on the handling of such waste.

"Government needs urgently to get a firmer grip on this policy area and, working closely with industry, help manage the costs, provide better incentives and develop new routes for disposal and reuse of waste material," said Gary Booton of the EEF.

Booton insisted that industry is working hard to "meet the challenges and develop the opportunities of dealing responsibly with waste".

"But without the necessary reforms there are major concerns that our waste management system is ill-equipped and inadequately prepared to deal with this agenda," he added.