ESA elects Jean-Dominique Mallet as chairman

At the annual meeting last Friday (November 25) of the ESA – which represents UK waste management companies – Mr Mallet succeeded the managing director of Shanks, Ian Goodfellow, who had held the post for two years.

Mr Goodfellow said: For me this is a mixed day. I am very pleased to be handing over to Jean-Dominique Mallet but Im sad to be stepping down as chairman of an enjoyable and vibrant trade association.

This has been a very interesting two years and above all I know we are all facing tough times but we are getting through, although while we are getting there, the many challenges such as obtaining planning permissions still remain. I know that this industry is ready to invest in the infrastructure and we are there to take the industry forward.

Mr Goodfellow also remarked on the recent changes in Defra where ministers have come and gone. He said: In my two years we have had three waste ministers which could suggest they are not taking waste as seriously as they should.

He introduced Mr Mallet as the newly-elected chairman, saying he has a passion and knowledge and understanding that will serve us well over the next two years.

Responding, Mr Mallet thanked Mr Goodfellow for his clear leadership of the ESA over the past two years which he had led with exceptional diplomatic ability.

Health and Safety

Mr Mallets address saw him make a pledge to put health and safety at the top of his agenda. I am going to make a very personal commitment to the health and safety of 140,000 people in our industry and I am sure you will share this with me.

Only when we have zero accidents can we consider the job done. I will use this chairmanship to champion good working practices.

Mr Mallet said the second item he will be focusing on will be leading the roadmap for the industry in getting it the credit it deserves. He pointed to the training provided to the workforce and creation of quality managers. And, he also highlighted that the industry was at the forefront of carbon reduction, had signed the shared responsibility deal with Defra, environmental trusts were supporting a range of projects and that the industry was always swift to embrace legislative change.

He also promised that while ESA speaks on behalf of industry, I will extend my hand to all institutions. I will extend my hand to the regulators in their declared wish to cut red tape.

Regulation

But, he cautioned that there is a problem with uncertainty and unnecessary regulation and emphasised that the waste management industry needed to operate in a competitive environment.

Mr Mallet argued: We need consistent and fair regulation to remove the blot of waste crime and the grey area of sham recovery. We need to be heard when we speak of the planning failures in the local authority system.

And, the new chairman warned that political risk is now being talked of when discussing waste in the UK. The process is too long, too capricious and unpredictable.