Minister asked for clarity on waste policy

The letter, which also comes from senior local authority figures, calls for an early meeting with the minister to discuss future policy direction on waste.

Mr Stewart – the Conservative MP for Penrith & the Border – has commenced ministerial duties having been given his formal brief by Defra last week – outlining the Department’s activities to tackle air quality at a committee meeting yesterday (see AirQualityNews.com story).

Signatories include the Environmental Services Association, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, the Institution of Civil Engineers, Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association, Local Authorities Waste Network CoordinatThe letterrs, the Resource Association and Renewable Energy Association.

Among the issues highlighted are the need to increase the household waste recycling and composting rate to bring the UK in line with the 50% by 2020 recycling target – including support for recycling markets and for food waste collection.

A potential lack of waste treatment, recycling and reprocessing facilities is also highlighted, with the signatories claiming that a policy framework for the next ’10 to 15 years’ is needed to provide certainty for potential investors in the sector.

Waste crime

Finally, the group also highlights the need for a strong stance on waste crime from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

In the letter the groups wrote: “Over the past few years our organisations have worked together to articulate a unified voice for the waste and resource management sector and this has proved effective – notably in working with your predecessor to secure additional funding for the Environment Agency to combat waste crime.

“Waste is a valuable source of materials, energy and nutrients. The industry has grown strongly over recent years despite the adverse economic climate and has the potential to make a further important contribution to growth and job creation. However, we are concerned that progress in improving resource management in England has stalled and we would like to offer to work with you and your officials at Defra to help turn this situation around.”

Two of the signatories ESA and CIWM – through their joint venture Resources & Waste UK – have already outlined their policy priorities for the new government and the waste sector at large, via their sustainable resource manifesto, published last month (see letsrecycle.com story).