The appointment means that there will be at least one minister in the newly formed Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with experience of waste and recycling matters. Mr Meacher now has several years of experience in this area having led the launch of the Waste Strategy. He has also been heavily involved in the packaging waste system and is currently involved in planning possible changes to the way it operates.
Two junior ministers have been appointed to the department – Lord Whitty and Elliot Morley – but neither are expected to be involved in waste and recycling matters.
Chris Murphy, deputy chief exeuctive at the Institute of Wastes Management, said today at the IWM conference in Torquay that the Institute was pleased at the reappointment. “We welcome the appointment of Mr Meacher and the continuity it brings is beneficial. We are now waiting to see how waste issues are to be addressed by the new department.”
Tony Hirons, director of the Energy from Waste Association, said: “Mr Meacher's appointment will provide continuity to the implementation of the waste strategy. We look to the minister to provide a lead in encouraging all methods of recycling, re-use and recovery to attain what are extremely tough targets.”
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