Barry Dennis appointed UROC chairman

Former ESA chief Barry Dennis has joined the United Resources Operators Consortium (UROC) as its chairman, in a move which the organisation has described as Mr Dennis “going back to his roots”.

Mr Dennis previously served as director general of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), before stepping down in 2014 after 22 years with the organisation.

Following his departure he was appointed as the first chairman of RWM, a role in which he helps shape the “strategic direction” of the annual waste industry event.

This latest appointment will see him add gravitas to UROC, a trade body which represents small and medium-sized businesses in the industry. The organisation is often referred to as the “voice” of the skip hire sector.

Landfill tax

UROC has played a significant role in recent years fleshing out changes to the landfill tax regime, including the classification of waste trommel fines.

The changes, which were debated alongside ESA and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, included adopting a loss on ignition (LOI) testing regime to determine whether waste processor loads should be charged at a higher or lower tax bracket.

Commenting on Mr Dennis’ appointment, UROC announced that an industry heavyweight was returning to his skip hire roots.

UROC said: “Barry spent his formative years in the family skip hire business where he started on the road to a very successful career in the waste industry. With over half a century in the trade Barry will bring a wealth of experience to UROC and will be an asset to Members helping to focus on the issues and challenges facing the sector.

“Jennifer Watts and Kathryn Lucas, the founders of UROC, welcome Barry in his new role and are very much looking forward to working alongside him as the trade body flourishes.”

‘Bedding in’

Changes to landfill tax are likely to play a major part in Mr Dennis’ remit as UROC chairman, as the organisation’s members continue to enjoy a ‘bedding in’ period of the new LOI regime until April 2016.

Members of the trade body have raised concerns in recent weeks that some landfill operators in England and Wales are not responding to evidence produced under the new LOI system, with a number of loads rejected at the lower rate of tax.