Trade bodies unite in support of EU waste laws

The major trade bodies representing the UKs waste management and recycling sectors have joined together to express their support for the role of European Union legislation in driving the industry forward.

Support from the waste sector comes as the government continues to carry out its Review of the Balance of Competences, which seeks to assess whether current EU legislation is benefiting the UK.

The cross governmental review, included a consultation into the effect of EU environmental legislation which took place in spring 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story). Government is set to produce a report based on the findings of the review that will analyse the scope and effect of EU laws in relation to climate change and the environment.

In a joint statement, the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), Environmental Services Association (ESA), Renewable Energy Association (REA), Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Resource Association have voiced their support for the EU as a force for good for UK industry.

The statement read: In sharing our separate responses to the governments consultation, it is clear that there are strong common positions and concerns about the role of the EU that are shared across the industry. We are clear that the overall impact of EU waste legislation has benefited the UK and that we want the UK to maintain a strong role in influencing EU waste and resources policy.

We agree that much more needs to be done to level the playing field of implementation of EU legislation, especially on delivering common standards for reporting and clarity on definitions and targets to make cross-EU comparisons more meaningful.

Landfill Directive

The groups also singled out the Landfill Directive, as among the single pieces of legislation to have the greatest effect on UK industry, adding that it was unlikely that UK governments acting alone could have helped to drive industry forward in a similar way.

Undoubtedly EU waste legislation has been a force for good for the UK industry, with the Landfill Directive a prime example of how EU legislation has driven policy forward and transformed our resource recovery industry in the last decade. We doubt that successive UK Governments would have managed this alone.

We want our engagement with the EU to be embedded and constructive, and respecting the principle of subsidiarity we believe that the UK should continue to embrace this approach continued involvement in EU policy is good for the waste and resources industry.

CBI

The comments from the waste industry come as the Confederation of British Industries (CBI) issued a warning against the UK leaving the EU, arguing that the move would damage the UK economy.

In a report published yesterday (November 4), which included input from Veolia Environment Services chief executive Estelle Brachlianoff, the organisation argued that reforms were needed but that the benefits of EU membership to British businesses have significantly outweighed the costs.

Writing in the report, CBI director-general John Cridland, said: Membership of the EUs single market remains fundamental to our economic future. British business is convinced that, by staying in a reformed EU, the UK can get the best of both worlds access to markets in Europe and beyond that build on our innate strengths our language, time zone, respected legal system and flexible labour market.