Project Integra – the organisation responsible for the collection and disposal of waste in Hampshire – wrote to government in October 2015 requesting any IBA not sent to landfill be classified as ‘recycling’, in line with the Welsh Government and other EU Member States (see letsrecycle.com story).
IBA, the by-product that is left over after waste is burnt in an incinerator, typically contains materials such as glass, metals and stones which are removed from the furnace, screened and reused for construction purposes where possible.
Disposal
This use is classified as a ‘disposal’ rather than ‘recycling’ activity in England, with tonnages not entered into municipal recycling, composting and reuse rates.
Ramping up the pressure on government to change the classification, Hampshire has written to 43 county and unitary authorities across England which handle disposal of waste urging them to pledge support for the initiative.
In a letter sent prior to the EU referendum by Frank Pearson to councillor Lisa Trickett of Birmingham city council, the then acting Project Integra chair asks the council to show that “there is a unified voice among councils in England”.
Mr Pearson asks Birmingham to back its call for IBA recycling performance to be measured in line with other member states, to adopt one standardised measure of recycling rate that is reported across all of the UK, and that IBA recycling be included in all relevant calculations as part of a drive to simplify waste definitions.
Support
Cllr Trickett wrote back to Project Integra calling the intervention ”timely” as Birmingham was already looking at how IBA impacted its recycling rate. She added that in 2015/16, the city council recycled 57,602 tonnes of IBA from its Tynesley energy from waste plant – amounting to 14.34% that could have been counted towards its recycling rate.
In a letter seen by letsrecycle.com dated 4 July, Cllr Trickett had contacted the then Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change Amber Rudd – asking her to consider including IBA as a statutory recycling target.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Chris Noble – head of Project Integra – explained that he is hoping to achieve a more “joined-up approach” to lobbying government in future.
He said: “We are approaching all waste disposal authorities who handle 10,000 tonnes of IBA per year or more. We want to continue to lobby central government and have contacted 43 councils, with written confirmation of support from 13 and eight others who have so far responded positively.
“The vast majority all have their own lobbying plans but I would like to see more integration. If we can have a more joined up approach with all these authorities we could make a difference.”
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