This new title is being used instead of 'Institute of Wastes Management' as from this conference, at which Mr Ager took office.
The PIU is in effect revisiting the government's waste strategy and its report is widely expected to influence waste management policy for many years to come.
Addressing delegates at the CIWM annual conference in Torbay, Mr Ager, deputy cleansing manager for the City of London Corporation, said that the waste industry has been supportive of the study to date.
The CIWM had seconded a member of staff to the PIU waste team.
Mr Ager said: “Following the waste summit, the PIU launched the waste study. It is due to report in the autumn of 2002, and while it is not clear whether the results could live up to the great expectations held by the waste industry, the outcome of the study and its impact on easing implementation of the waste strategy are eagerly awaited.”
The president went on to demand that the government follows through on the work of the PIU, saying: “While the waste summit and subsequent PIU study do signal a positive political position with regard to waste, it is essential that these actions are followed through with strong, clear leadership from government in support of and development of more sustainable waste management practices.”
Mr Ager also commented on media attention to “inconclusive” health studies concerning waste.
Referring to these, he said that the industry “continues to be undermined by the publication of inconclusive studies and current achievements of high standards and professionalism in site management continue to be ignored.”
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