Defras waste and recycling brief could be set for review for the second time in just over a year, with the government confirming several changes have been made within the Department as part of the coalitions cabinet reshuffle.
And, one of the new ministers, Dan Rogerson, has set out his views on energy from waste in Cornwall saying he was opposed to plans for the plant which is to be built by SITA UK.
Lord de Mauley was appointed to the waste position in September 2012 replacing then waste minister Lord Taylor, who had held the position for just over 12 months. And, while Lord de Mauley looks set to remain within the Department as its representative within the House of Lords, it is not clear if he will keep the waste portfolio.
It has already been confirmed that Defra minister Richard Benyon will return to the backbenches, but it has not yet been revealed what further changes within the Department will be made.
Despite not holding the waste brief within Defra, the Conservative MP for Newbury had acted as a spokesman for the department within the House of Commons on issues including packaging waste, refuse derived fuel and the proposed levy on single-use carrier bags.
Farming minister David Heath has also left the Department. The MP for Somerton and Frome took over the role from James Paice in September 2012.
Reshuffle
Joining Defra as part of the reshuffle is the Conservative MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle George Eustice, and Dan Rogerson, the Liberal Democrat MP for the North Cornwall constituency.
Mr Rogerson will be familiar to some within the waste sector, having been involved with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group as well as having publicly opposed Cornwall councils plans to build an energy-from-waste (EfW) plant in the county.
Mr Eustice had previously sat on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee and had advised David Cameron on energy and climate change issues as part of the Conservative Parliamentary Advisory Board.
He also has some experience of the waste sector during his time in politics, having visited third sector reuse organisations during his time as a parliamentary candidate and opening a materials recycling facility (MRF) in his Cornish constituency in February 2013.
It has not yet been revealed who will carry out the portfolio left by the outgoing Benyon, whose primary responsibilities included fisheries, land management and soil, natural environment and biodiversity, flooding and coastal erosion.
Labour
Labour leader Ed Miliband has also changed personnel in his shadow cabinet today, with Mary Creagh replaced as shadow Defra minister swapping positions with shadow transport minister Maria Eagle.
Ms Eagle, MP for Garston and Halewood has previously worked in posts at the Ministry of Justice and Northern Ireland Office while in government, and held the shadow transport portfolio since October 2010. Her twin sister Angela, also a member of the opposition had been responsible for landfill tax during her spell as exchequer secretary to the Treasury between 2007 and 2008.
She will join Luton South MP Gavin Shuker, who currently holds the position as Labours environment minister a spokesperson for the Labour Party told letsrecycle.com that further changes will be announced in due course.
Related Links
Ms Creagh, MP for Wakefield since 2005, was given the shadow Defra post in 2010. One of her final acts in the role was last weeks pledge for a landfill ban on food waste if Labour were to win the next election (see letsrecycle.com story).
In 2011, she also called on the government to set a 70% recycling rate by 2024 in the UK to create an additional 50,000 jobs (see letsrecycle.com story).
Register for free to comment