Speaking today at a Parliamentary Private Members Debate, Mrs Ruddock responded to questions over a number of issues which the British Metal Recycling Association (BMRA) has claimed are affecting the fortunes of the UK's metal recycling industry. The debate was prompted by Southampton MP Dr Alan Whitehead who has taken an interest in the metals recycling sector.
The BMRA has raised concerns over the effect that waste export regulations are having on the ability of UK metal recyclers to ship metals overseas, and it has also called for recycled metals to no longer be classified as waste, therefore reducing the regulation they are subject to. These were among the issues raised by Dr Whitehead.
The European Parliament is currently undertaking a review of its Waste Framework Directive (see letsreycle.com story), with some scrap metals one of the areas to be considered for reclassification as a by-product rather than a waste.
However, Mrs Ruddock warned that “there is some way to go before the revised Directive could be adopted”.
Despite this, she sought to assure the BMRA that the government would be doing its utmost to ensure as fast a resolution of the revised Directive as possible, advocating the use of comitology (a process where national experts meet behind closed doors) instead of the lengthier process of codecision between the European Parliament and Commission to finalise the document.
Problems
This statement was criticised by Conservative shadow minister for environment, food and rural affairs, Ann McIntosh MP, who warned that, while the comitology procedure might lead to the revised Directive being finalised earlier, it could also create problems.
“They may well be imposing additional burdens on industry of which we're not aware until they're decided,” she said. “Some MPs would be appalled by this going through comitology.”
In response, Mrs Ruddock explained that “while we appreciate the importance of transparency, there has to be a trade-off and that's why we as a government have sought comitology”.
Exports
Mrs Ruddock also faced criticism for the government's role in last year's finalisation of the European Regulations for the Transhipment of Waste, and not ensuring that metals were not subjected to the same restrictions on export to non-Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD countries as other materials.
Under the regulations, firm agreements need to be secured with non-OECD countries' governments before materials classed as waste can be exported to companies based there.
Ms McIntosh argued: “Had the government opposed or sought to revise these regulations when they went through we wouldn't be in the situation we're in today, that's at the root of the problem.”
Mrs Ruddock explained that “I'm not in a position to answer regarding the reasons, but it is very important that we try to overcome these issues and problems, and we have made efforts, the important markets of China and India have been secured”.
Taskforce
During the debate, calls were made for a recycling taskforce to be established, with Conservative MP Tony Baldry arguing that “there needs to be more joined-up thinking involving the recycling industry”.
However, Mrs Ruddock refused to commit to establishing such a body, explaining that “I will have to consider this further but the local provision of recycling and reuse must be decided locally.
“At the national level there is already a group for end-of-life vehicles (ELV), and also the waste electronics and electrical equipment (WEEE) Advisory Board, as well as the Waste Strategy Forum. This plethora of bodies is set and together these groups are there to advance the debate,” she added. Mrs Ruddock also agreed to a meeting with the BMRA.
Off-cuts
There was positive news for companies dealing in metal off-cuts, following a recent European Union case study that described shavings as a by-product.
Dr Whitehead, who is also co-chair of the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, said: “The UK ought to be able to take this open invitation to reclassify shavings and off-cuts ahead of the revised Directive.”
Ms Ruddock indicated that an amendment in regulation was indeed imminent, revealing that “The Environment Agency is to shortly publish guidance when clean off-cuts can be reused without regulatory control”
Aluminium
In a further part of the debate Mrs Ruddock took issue with the UK's current level of recycling and recovery for aluminium, with the UK's aluminium can recycling rate currently standing at 48%.
“We are failing to capture most of the aluminium that's used in drinks cans because it's consumed away from home,” she explained.
She added that Defra officials would be meeting tomorrow (April 23) with industry stakeholders to examine ways to increase the levels of aluminium recovered from food packaging.
While there was a consensus of support for the efforts of the BMRA among MPs in attendance, with Ms Ruddock describing the industry as “vital”, Ms McIntosh claimed that the building of metal recycling plants, and recycling facilities in general, could possibly “blight the countryside and affect house prices”, and called for these issues to be taken into consideration.
The British Metals Recycling Association is understood to see the debate as a success for the sector on a number of levels. It has helped gain ministerial recognition for metals and increased awareness of what the industry does as well as raising export concerns and securing the meeting for the sector.
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