Chaired by Professor David Wilson from Imperial College, the Waste and Resources Research Advisory Group, held its first meeting last week.
The group's work forms one of eight “work streams” in DEFRA's Waste Implementation Programme (WIP), set up last year in the wake of the Strategy Unit review on how best to proceed with national targets for recycling 25% of household waste by 2005/6.
The R & D strategy that the new advisory group is to develop will provide a “sound evidence base” for the government's long-term waste policy development, extending beyond the remit of “shorter-term” research initiatives in other WIP streams.
The group's recommendations will look at DEFRA's priorities and short-term objectives for the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill as well as looking “further ahead to a ten year horizon” at challenges facing waste management.
Professor Wilson said: “We have some key challenges facing us. The group will be producing recommendations on how DEFRA's waste research programme should be developed and implemented, and will be highlighting he most significant research areas.
The membership of the group is described as “task oriented rather than wholly representational” by DEFRA, with members from industry, academia and local and national government.
As well as Prof Wilson, the group members are:
- Nick Blakey, DEFRA
- Martin Cox, DEFRA
- Mike Brown, County Environmental Services
- Prof Chris Coggins, independent consultant
- Dr David Davies, independent consultant
- Dr Gev Eduljee, SITA UK
- Jane Gilbert, Composting Association
- Dr Jan Gronow, Environment Agency
- Richard Kirkman, Onyx Environmental
- Des Langford, DTI
- Andy Moore, Community Recycling Network
- Dr Julian Parfitt, WRAP
- Prof Paul Phillips, Northampton University
- Prof William Powrie, University of Southampton
- Claire Thacker, Hampshire county council
- Claire Tansley, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
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