ESA chair calls for more waste sector recognition

However, Mr Palmer-Jones, who is also chief executive of SITA UK, said it is frustrating that that the industry is not given more recognition and assistance from government in helping to deliver green growth.

The comments came at the ESAs annual lunch on Friday (November 30) which saw new Recycling Minister Lord de Mauley pledge to provide leadership to the waste industry during his time in office. The event was attended by over 550 members of the waste industry.

Speaking first at the event, Lord de Mauley acknowledged the important role the waste sector can play in helping the UK to deliver economic growth and jobs.

He said: Growth, as you well know, is a fundamental priority of this Government. Im in no doubt that the waste and resource management industry has a key role to play in helping deliver jobs and investment. Some may argue that there is conflict between growth and the environment but I cannot agree; growth in the waste and resource management sector can deliver both economic and environmental benefits to businesses and wider society.

Leadership

Lord de Mauley said the government was working on its part of the deal in helping to deliver this. He said: I know the industry wants leadership from the government, as the relatively new minister for resource management not just waste – I want to provide just that. It doesnt mean I will always agree with you but it does mean I want constructive engagement and discussion between us so that we develop policies and action that support growth and improve the environment.

He also noted the importance of regulation and enforcement and the industry and government should work together to tackle poor and illegal operators who do nothing for the industrys reputation.

Lord de Mauley added that the waste industry should be proud of its achievements in no longer treating waste like a problem and instead treating it as a resource.

Transformation

Mr Palmer-Jones agreed that the waste industry has a lot to offer, but said it was frustrating that it was not given more recognition by government.

He said: Our industry has so much to offer the UK in terms of environmental, economic and social improvement. The green growth potential available to us is considerable be that the 20billion in new investment needed to transform our treatment infrastructure to put waste to good use, or the creation of up to 80,000 new jobs to staff those plantstherefore it is so frustrating that our industry doesnt get more recognition and assistance from government.

In addition, he urged the industry to work with government to set out the path towards a resource efficient economy.

During my time as chairman, I will attempt to galvanise support across the whole of our industry to create a clear roadmap of actions based around the idea of the circular economy, to demonstrate how we could turn environmental policy into reality. It is time for the whole of the industry to speak with one voice and clearly spell out the manner in which government and others can facilitate the delivery of a world where we use resources in an intelligent and efficient manner.

Transformation

Mr Palmer-Jones called on Lord de Mauley to help the industry achieve its potential. He said: Lord de Mauley if we are to deliver this transformation and green growth, we need your passion and your commitment to help this worthy and essential cause.

Lord de Mauley, become our industry champion, and help us deliver a world class waste management and recycling infrastructure and all the environmental, economic and social benefits associated with doing so.

Also at the event, Mike Hellings, former managing director of Viridor, was awarded life membership of the ESA following his retirement from the waste management company as well as the ESAs board (see letsrecycle.com story).