Monday meeting to address falling material values

The Environment Agency told letsrecycle.com today that it was having pre-meetings with bodies such as WRAP to prepare for Monday's session, which it claimed would bring “all the relevant parties around the table”.

We appreciate the concerns that exist. We are not sure how widespread the problem is but we are taking it seriously

 
Phillip Ward, WRAP

While it will be for Defra to decide on the exact nature of the guidance, the EA said it expected it to involve “interim changes” which would help both regulators and waste operators to manage the situation, particularly with respect to the storage of recovered materials.

It is not believed the guidance will involve any changes to legislation, but will instead involve measures to relax the controls in the permits needed for storing waste or the extension of exemptions.

Defra is under pressure to act fast to help councils and waste management operators ride out the current economic situation, with the department expected to reveal the outcome of the meeting early next week.

Adrian Harding, of the Environment Agency, said today: “We recognise that these are exceptional market conditions and could have a potential impact on maintaining waste treatment capacity, achieving recycling targets and avoiding illegal disposal of waste.

“We are preparing guidance for Environment Agency staff and operators on how we can best respond to these challenges to minimise the impact on the environment,” he added.

Pressure

The mounting pressure on Defra to address the current downturn in the recycling market was evident in parliament yesterday, with waste and recycling minister Jane Kennedy facing questions over what the Government was doing.

Michael Jack, MP for Fylde in Lancashire, said: “The Minister will be aware that successful recycling depends on good markets for recyclable materials. She will also be aware that there has been a catastrophic fall in the prices of plastic bottles, paper and cans.”

“What steps will the Government take to avoid the accumulation of mountains of those important materials in the coming weeks and months, and to ensure that they are properly stored and looked after until the markets recover?”

Responding to this, Ms Kennedy said she recognised the gravity of the situation.

She said: “That is indeed a growing problem, and we shall want to take stock of the situation. We have established a waste strategy that sets out the direction of travel for the Government and the local authorities with which responsibility for general waste policy lies, but I acknowledge that the Right Hon. Gentleman raises an important issue.”

WRAP

Speaking to letsrecycle.com, WRAP revealed that the sharp fall in the value of recyclables was top of its agenda.

Phillip Ward, the organisation's director for local government services, said: “This is right on top of our agenda. We appreciate the concerns that exist. We are not sure how widespread the problem is but we are taking it seriously.”

He continued: “WRAP is very conscious that a number of local authorities are beginning to experience difficulties. We are in communication with local authorities to gather the extent of the problem and we are talking to their partners in the reprocessing sector.”

In terms of intervention, Mr Ward suggested that there may be a number of ways to tackle current problems besides material storage. “We are actively considering what interventions that could be made to alleviate the situation. Storage is one of the ideas that has been raised and that is a matter for the Environment Agency. We are also considering blockages in the system such as letters of credit before rushing to any conclusions.”

Caution

Despite the rush to address the current economic situation, a note of caution about the potential impact on the environment was earlier this week sounded by Environment Agency chief executive Dr Paul Leinster.

Speaking in London on Wednesday, three days into his new job, he warned: “We do have to continue to protect the environment and make sure economics don't trump the environment.”