The Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR) is proposing to merge with the Renewable Energy Association (REA)in a move which would see AfOR become a working group within the REA.
AfOR managing director Jeremy Jacobs notified members of the proposal this week, requesting them to vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting on September 4.
AfOR is the trade association for organics recyclers and its members range from composters to operators of anaerobic digestion (AD) and mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants.The association is currently based at offices in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
“We urge you [AfOR members]to support this change as it will provide greater long term security for you and the organics sector as a whole”
Jeremy Jacobs, AfOR
The move isexpected to benefitAfOR membersby creating strength through unity, presenting a unified voice when lobbying government and providing a wider range of services.It followsthe diversification of many organics recyclers into renewable energy production, such as AD and biomass,which the REA caters for.
The REA has been in existence for ten years, with around 960 corporate members active in all fields of renewable energy and has been influential in directing renewable energy policy.
Proposal
Under the proposal, AfOR members day-to-day contact with AfOR staff would remain the same as at present but the certification work of AfOR – covering PAS 100 and compostable packaging- would move over to the REAs subsidiary, REAL (Renewable Energy Assurance Limited).
REAL already manages the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme which certifies AD plants against the PAS 110 standard for quality digestate and also the Green Gas Certification Scheme. This would mean that the certification for both PAS110 and PAS 100 would be simplified with a merger of the accompanying skills.
AfORs remaining activities would meanwhile be carried out as one of the REAs Resource Groups, which would be called the Organics Recycling Group, which Mr Jacobs would head up.
AfOR said that if the change went ahead, it intended for there to be no material increase in fee levels for members.
In his letter to members, Mr Jacobs said: AfOR has long embraced the concept that a blend of technologies is best placed to serve the UKs organics recycling requirements. It is AfORs strong belief that the REAs complimentary skills will support the needs of all our members, not just those in the AD sector. Many of our members involved in composting also have agricultural interests.
We believe that membership of the REA will help those members continue to diversify their agricultural activities by offering support in complimentary activities such as biomass, PV and wind projects, all of which are fast becoming economically viable both at a micro and medium scale.
Benefit
Around twenty members of AfOR are already members of the REA and the Association said that these would directly benefit, as they would only have one membership fee to pay.
AfOR explained that it had considered a merger with the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), which represents the AD sector, but decided the REA was a better match as it would not just benefit those members with interests in AD.
Mr Jacobs concluded: We urge you to support this change as it will provide greater long term security for you and the organics sector as a whole and enhance and broaden the range of advice and services we can offer you.
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