In contrast, food recycling company Refood, owned by German waste management giant Remondis said that the “Brexit” decision could mean that savings from EU membership could in part be spend on food waste schemes.
And, the textiles recycling sector expressed concerns about the potential threat to trade because of the need to draw up new trade agreements.
Waste industry – ESA
Speaking for the waste management industry, Jacob Hayler, executive director of the waste management industry trade body, the Environmental Services Association, said: “The referendum result will extend and intensify the uncertainty around both our industry and the UK more generally.
“The danger now is that the waste and recycling sector is placed at the bottom of the Government’s in-tray. It is therefore vital for us to make the case for the circular economy within the UK and to highlight the advantages of a strong and competitive resource efficient economy.”
Mr Hayler added: “The public’s vote has been cast and, while there may be threats, we must turn it into an opportunity and press the Government for the long-term framework that the waste and recycling industry now needs more than ever.”
And, the ESA executive director has also warned that if “Brexit” was to reduce the ability to export RDF, this could lead to increased use of landfill in the UK.
Food waste – ReFood
Philip Simpson, commercial director at ReFood, said the vote represents “momentous opportunity for the UK government to affirm its commitment to tackling food waste.”
He said: “Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Brexit is that the British government now has the autonomy to set its own waste recycling targets. Previously, all UK legislation was voluntary, with Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland choosing to introduce laws that made the separation and recycling of food waste mandatory. England, however, left it to individual local authorities to implement their own initiatives. This saw widespread disparity in commitment to food waste recycling, with many local authorities choosing not to get provide collection services for homeowners or businesses.
“Unfortunately, this is a short-sighted approach and fails to capitalise on the significant economic and sustainable benefits of food waste recycling.”
Mr Simpson continued: “Let’s use Brexit as a springboard for introducing a total ban on food waste to landfill in England…. What’s more, it has been estimated that Britain’s membership of the EU costs upwards of £350m per week. With those savings alone, an exit from the EU could see increases in funding for Britain’s sustainability industry – including food waste management schemes.”
Textiles – Textile Recycling Association
The Textiles Recycling Association said that the UK will have to carry out negotiations on trade which had been carried out through the European Union.
Association director Alan Wheeler, said: “The European Union trading block is vital to our industry, with large quantities of used clothing being freely traded within the 28 member states. It is inevitable that this surprise result will cause a great deal of uncertainty going forward and until we know what the terms of agreements we secure going forward it is impossible to predict what will happen. Added into that, the EU has negotiated many trade agreements with countries and trading blocks in other parts of the world and it is through such agreements that the UK is able to export many goods.”
Mr Wheeler also noted: “Currently BIS delegate all their trade responsibilities to DG trade. This is now going to have to change and UK is going to have to negotiate their own trade deals which could take years. By 5 am this morning we have seen the Pound drop by around 10% overnight to a low of $1.35 which has not been seen since 1985. Who knows when it will stop falling or what the ramifications of this will be on the economy. One thing is certain, where we had some clarity before the referendum, the situation this morning is anything but clear.”
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