Defra stays silent on announcement of waste minister

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has yet to reveal who will take over the brief following the Penrith and the Border MP’s move to International Development.

Dr Thérèse Coffey – who was appointed parliamentary undersecretary at Defra on 18 July – is seen as the most likely candidate to inherit the portfolio.

But when questioned by letsrecycle.com today, the department said it had yet to finalise who would resume its responsibilities to steer waste and recycling policy.

The inertia is causing frustration within the sector, with some industry professionals concerned that Mr Stewart’s sudden departure has already set policy progress back.

The former Defra minister had been spearheading a project to inform councils on collection consistency, with the findings due to be revealed by WRAP last week. However, the reshuffle has now seen the announcement postponed (see letsrecycle.com story).

Phil Conran, chair of the Advisory Packaging Committee and director of compliance scheme 360 Environmental, argues the industry has had little to no interaction with government since the EU referendum result in June.

‘Rudderless’

“It’s all a bit rudderless. From a packaging point of view we have new targets that have to be put in place relatively soon and there’s the Extended Producer Responsibility debate still going on and uncertainty surrounding the Circulars Economy Package.

“We have no understanding of what the government position is on recycling targets and intervention on management of waste in general, which I think is something we would all like to see.”

Jacob Hayler, chief executive of the Environmental Services Association, said the outcome of the EU referendum has led to a “period of change” in government.

“ESA believes that delivering a more resource efficient economy provides a powerful opportunity for the UK to raise its productivity and deliver investment and jobs in our sector,” he said. “We felt that the former Ministerial team was enthusiastic about this opportunity and we look forward to maintaining momentum with the new Minister when the final briefs are confirmed.”