Angus Macpherson, managing director of the OM Environmental Exchange, said today that the idea of giving the Agency the key role of administering the permits would be ill-advised as it had a “shortfall of expertise” in dealing with electronic exchanges. The suggestion comes in this week's consultation paper on tradable permits which will be given to councils to allow them to landfill specific volumes of biodegradable municipal waste. (See letsrecycle.com news)
“If the government were to decide the Agency should handle the permits, the Agency would be putting themselves in a difficult position. They have experience in regulation but not as market operators and I can see a potential conflict of interest.”
But, Mr Macpherson declined to say at this stage whether the OM exchange would be interested in offering a trading solution, although it is thought that the organisation is following the permits debate closely.
Meanwhile, the waste industry and local government have both welcomed the consultation.
ESA view
David O'C;onnor of Onyx, who chairs the Environmental Services Association's treatment and landfill committee said: “We will be looking closely at the consultation paper. Our company, as do other waste management companies, have many contracts with local government. All the major companies with municipal contracts will be looking to work closely with councils in implementing the permits system.
“We are all already working with Best Value and see partnerships as of prime importance.”
Equity
On the local government side, Bob Lisney, county surveyor for Hampshire and an adviser to the Local Government Association, said that although the LGA was still to go through the consultation paper, there were a number of issues still under discussion.
“One area we have looked at is the issue of equity of delivery. For example where authorities have taken the right decisions but projects cannot get underway because of difficulties with planning permission, it could be unfair for authorities to be penalised. In effect they will be hit by a double whammy.”
Mr Lisney said there was a concern also that some councils might simply choose to pay for extra permits to landfill material and that this would not help achieve overall targets.
And he suggested that the LGA was also keen to see the permit system interlinked with the new municipal waste strategies that are being prepared by local authorities.
Also of concern is that the permit system could take money away from local authorities and cause problems for the councils concerned.
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