The Government's Waste Strategy for England published in 2007 encourages RDAs and other regional bodies to facilitate the improved management of business waste and resource management in partnership with local authorities and other organisations. 
 
We are also committed to delivering the South West Regional Waste Strategy published by the South West Regional Assembly in 2004. This aims to ensure that by 2020 over 45% of the waste generated in the region is reused or recycled and that less than 20% of the waste produced is disposed of to landfill. 
 
Effective waste management is central to ensuring that South West England's economy is both efficient and competitive whilst also protecting the environment. 
 
Every year South West England produces around 2.5 million tonnes of domestic waste, 5.5 million tonnes of commercial & industrial waste, and 12.5 million tonnes of construction & demolition waste.  
 
Landfill remains the major method of waste disposal in South West England. Just under 21 million tonnes (70%) of municipal waste was sent to landfill in the region in 2004/2005 but this is reducing, having fallen from 82% in 2000/1. 
 
We are working closely with other Government agencies including Government Office South West, the South West Regional Assembly and Environment Agency to take forward the development of strategic waste management for our region. In particular we are focussing on ensuring that commercial and industrial waste is managed more sustainably in the future, while minimising the cost to businesses and our economy.