ABSTRACT
The planning and delivery of UK public services is changing. A desire to make services more responsive and appropriate to individual and local needs is driving government reforms (Blair, 2004). The centralized, top-down, ‘one size fits all’ approach is being criticized and bottom-up reform enabled by the centre is seen as the alternative (Blair, 2004). Local governance is a key objective. This involves devolving power and making services more locally accountable, thus forging a modern relationship between the state, citizens and services (Miliband, 2006). Partnership working between public, private and community actors is being offered as a key mechanism. This chapter explores the nature of waste management in this context.
