WRAP critic elected as Tory party chairman

Conservative Party leader David Cameron unveiled the new role for the shadow communities and local government secretary this morning (January 19) as part of an overhaul of the shadow cabinet, which also saw Nick Herbert replace Peter Ainsworth as shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs.

However, one sector expert told letsrecycle.com that the change of role for Mr Pickles could have more significance for the Conservative's attitude towards recycling than Mr Herbert's appointment, with Mr Pickles having been a prominent and outspoken commentator on waste and recycling issues in the national media in recent months.

On numerous occasions, Mr Pickles, who is the MP for Brentwood, has attacked the actions of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), labelling it ‘the government's bin quango'.

And, the former Bradford city councillor has also routinely attacked the government's role in plans to “introduce punitive taxes” for waste disposal, reduce bin sizes and measures such as alternate weekly collections, claiming that these could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

In a written answer to a parliamentary question last week (January 12), minister for environment, Jane Kennedy, revealed that chief executive of WRAP, Liz Goodwin, had extended an invitation to Mr Pickles to discuss any concerns.

Nick Herbert

As the MP for Arundel and South Downes, in Sussex, Mr Herbert, 45, has expressed a number of opinions on waste and environment- including opposition to increasing landfill capacity in his constituency and sending waste to landfill, as well as support for reward-based recycling incentive schemes.

He has also attempted to raise awareness of the necessity for the UK to follow the example of European countries such as Germany and Portugal and break its dependence on landfill.
Having previously held the office of shadow justice secretary, Mr Herbert replaces Peter Ainsworth, MP for East Surrey, who leaves the position which he has held since December 2005.

In the 1997 election Mr Herbert stood as Conservative candidate in Berwick-Upon-Tweed, one of the most rural seats in England. And, in his role as director of political affairs for the British Field Sports Society, he played a role in setting up the Countryside Movement, which later became the Countryside Alliance.