Lord de Mauley leaves his post of parliamentary under secretary of state for natural environment and science. He also had responsibility for all activities of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the House of Lords. A Defra spokeswoman confirmed his departure this morning (May 19).
Prior to the General Election, Liberal Democrat Dan Rogerson had responsibility for recycling. He lost his seat on May 7 and with the return of the majority Conservative government, secretary of state Liz Truss stayed in post as did minister George Eustice. Rory Stewart – MP for Penrith and the Border – was appointed as a new junior minister to the Department, taking up the number three position previously held by Dan Rogerson. The fourth member of the Defra ministerial line-up after the election was Lord de Mauley.
However, last week no duties were allocated and Mr Stewart told letsrecycle.com that decisions on the recycling brief were likely to be made this week.
A statement is expected soon about the appointment of a new Lord to Defra, who could even be shared with another department. A number of peers have held responsibility for waste and recycling in the past and the role could end up being given to the new appointee. Past holders of the waste remit have included Lord Taylor of Holbeach, who was a popular figure in the post, and Earl Ferrers. Lord de Mauley also held the recycling post from 2012 for one year before being succeeded by Dan Rogerson.
One observer said that waste and recycling was now “not a big topic” for Defra and so could well fit within the brief of the new peer.
As soon as waste and recycling responsibilities are allocated within the Department, the postholder is likely to be besieged by representatives of the waste and recycling sector all keen to get their voices heard.
Viridor: “action”
Yesterday, one of the UK’s largest waste management companies, Viridor, published its response to a joint consultation on waste crime from Defra and the Welsh Government, and called “for government action to address the problem”.
Viridor director of external affairs, Dan Cooke, said: “We hope the new Government will put tackling waste crime front and centre of its priorities for the sector. There was much to be encouraged about in the last Parliament, but too often mixed-messages translated to inaction and feelings that the sector was not being offered enough support. We’ve tabled some practical solutions to the problems we face and are confident that with a fresh approach from government, the sector can realise its massive potential.”
R&WUK: “jobs”
David Palmer-Jones, chief executive of SITA UK, has announced that the new organisation Resources & Waste UK – a combination of policy makers from the Environmental Services Association and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management – “have developed the top priorities for our new government”. He added that he was “looking forward to presenting the opportunity to them.”
The priorities will include a call for government to ensure that the UK meets the 50% recycling target for 2020, more action on waste crime, clear messages on funding and recognition that the waste and recycling sector is a positive contributor with regard to creating “green jobs”.
• The Resource Association is holding its annual meeting today and chief executive Ray Georgeson is expected to outline his ambitions for the new government.
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