The Group, which is expected to change its name shortly to the National
Resources and Waste Forum, was created by the Department of Trade and Industry two
years ago. It aims to try and help raise the image of the waste sector and will seek
consensus on waste management methods.
Now, the group in a revamped form will also have the support of the Department of
the Environment, Transport and the Regions and is expected to have membership from local
authorities, waste management companies and non-governmental organisations such as
Waste Watch and Friends of the Earth.
Mike Brown, technical director of Cornwall’s waste company County Environmental,
has been appointed chairman of the new group, and said: “Personally I am optimistic that we
will get results. There is a huge gap in public confidence as to what we should do with their
waste.”
Mr Brown said he believed that there was a lower public confidence in waste than
there should be. “This is understandable but it is not justified.” He conceded that half of the
problem lay with the waste and recycling industry itself. “What other business has put as little
into presentation of their product as the waste industry?”
The Group
will carry out projects including an attempt to look at the economic framework around
recycling and in particular costs. And, it will look at ways to engage the public and how to
raise the profile of the industry. This could include a more open door approach to facilities to
the pubic and the media.
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