Add in the question of separate collections, and the potential for a legal challenge, a state of flux is inevitable in terms of operational work and service delivery for residents.
None of this will be helped by the fact that the General Election takes place on May 7 and we also have the new European Commission still bedding in and hesitating over a new resources policy.
Business plans for 2015 will have been made but local authorities will currently be making their final predictions for the next financial year.
It would be good to be able to forecast at least the commodity markets for the next few months but the sector itself is remaining more coy than normal in saying where the markets may be heading.
Overall there is something of a lack of confidence engendered by the need to maintain service charges in a market where business can be lost by the smallest of price considerations.
So, all in the recycling and waste management sector look set to face something of a rocky ride in 2015. Perhaps the best that can be hoped for is that the UK economy maintains an upward curve and that the European Continent steadies itself.
What could be helpful is leadership and the instilling of confidence from both politicians and the Environment Agency. Clear and fair regulation and policy making has never been more important.
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