BMRA president calls for UK metals strategy

Speaking at the event, which was held in Solihull in the West Midlands last Wednesday (December 3), Mr Wright, who assumed his role at the head of the BMRA in July 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), said that government should work in partnership with the sector to develop a strategy that would allow it to grow.

BMRA is extending an invitation to government to talk through these matters and introduce co-ordinated solutions built on a partnership approach

 
Michael Wright, BMRA

“We need the government's help to develop a strategy to recover the two million tonnes of metal that Defra estimates are still sent to landfill every year,” he said.

He told the dinner that: “Current one-size-fits-all environmental regulation and lack of an industry-focussed strategy are creating barriers to our industry's development.”

“BMRA is extending an invitation to government to talk through these matters and introduce co-ordinated solutions built on a partnership approach. Our economy and environment need it,” he added.

The metals recycling sector has been badly hit by the economic downturn, with steel and aluminium prices plummeting as metals production tails off, and reports that scrap yards were being forced to close their doors (see letsrecycle.com story).

Trade 

In his speech, Mr Wright reiterated the BMRA's belief that regulation of the metal recycling industry should be changed to boost its opportunities for trade and export.

“We need to see government support the position that fully recovered metals should no longer be classified as 'waste' so that this barrier to trade and exports can be removed,” he said. “We need to see sector-specific guidance on regulation.”

And, as well as calling for “co-ordinated action” to eradicate illegal scrap metal operators, Mr Wright also repeated the association's support for increased Energy-from-Waste capacity for industrial waste, which was outlined in its May 2008 'Agenda for Change' document (see letsrecycle.com story).

“We need a national strategy for industrial energy from waste, so that we have the capacity to cope with residual wastes arising from ELV, WEEE and other recycling operations,” he said.