R&WUK lays out waste priorities for government

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) and Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) formed R&WUK late last year, in an effort to coordinate the two bodies’ lobbying efforts and focus the waste sector response to key policy developments.

R&WUK has remained in the background over the last six months, including during the General Election campaign, but has today launched its manifesto today outlining key areas it is seeking to influence the new government.

The manifesto, entitled ‘Sustainable resource and waste: priorities for the new UK government’ lists the following six areas as priority actions for the new government:

1. Supporting and improving waste collection and recycling performance
2. Improving the climate for investment in circular economy infrastructure to deliver sustainable growth and jobs
3. Boosting domestic UK demand and markets for recycled materials
4. Creating the right regulatory balance between hitting waste criminals hard and encouraging legitimate businesses in the industry
5. Delivering coherent resources and waste policy across Governmental departments and between the four UK Governments
6. Engaging positively in policy development for resources and wastes at a European level

The manifesto highlights a number of the challenges faced by the waste and resources sector in the coming years, including making progress towards the 50% by 2020 household waste recycling target, which the UK is currently likely to miss, and the development of infrastructure to meet landfill diversion goals.

Government

Defra and the devolved Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish Governments will be among the key audiences targeted by the document, although as yet it is unclear which Defra minister is likely to take forward the waste brief in England. No minister has been formally handed the portfolio in the three weeks since the General Election.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com R&WUK and CIWM chief executive Steve Lee, said that it is ‘not yet’ concerning that Defra has not instructed a minister to look at the waste brief, but admitted that the delay was ‘unusually protracted’. He added that he hoped the recommendations contained within the manifesto would be taken on-board by government.

He said: “This is not an industry that will stand still, and without government support it will continue to move in a consistent direction. But we are not just calling for things that will make life comfortable for our sector – there are social and environmental benefits, that with support, we will be able to deliver.”

ESA director general, Jacob Hayler added that direction from government would be needed if the waste and resources sector is to deliver these aims.

“In reality we are not a market-led sector, we are a regulation-led sector. The sector is designed to achieve a set of outcomes and if we are not achieving those outcomes, it is a case of regulatory failure.”

Europe

Key among the proposals is the engagement with Europe over the development of new waste policy at a European level. The publication of the manifesto comes just a day after the European Commission launched its consultation on proposals to develop a new package of ‘circular economy’ laws to update existing waste legislation (see letsrecycle.com story).

While the UK at large is currently reflecting on its continued participation as part of the EU – with an in-out referendum on EU membership likely to take place next year – R&WUK has stressed that any firm proposals from the EU on resources will set the future direction of travel for the sector. The organisation has called for the government to ensure that the UK is well represented at the negotiating table on the circular economy agenda.