Announcing the merger at the EWA annual luncheon in Westminster today, Malcolm Chilton said the move had been agreed by an overwhelming majority of the EWA membership. EWA staff, including director Tony Hirons – who was formerly communications manager at the Institute of Waste Management – are expected to move across to the ESA which is currently based in Victoria, London.
A memorandum of understanding is to be signed shortly between the two organisations and a formal agreement could be reached during the Institute of Waste Management exhibition in Torbay from June 11-15.
The two organisations believe that a merger will give them a stronger voice when dealing with government.
Factors behind the merger are thought to include that some companies felt they could make cost savings through only paying one subscription rather than two. Another reason is that the EWA has increasingly argued that energy from waste has a role alongside other waste management options such as recycling and these routes are promoted by the ESA.
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