And, organisers of the new association say they have been told by HMRC that the government has accepted that the skip hire and waste transfer sector has not been properly represented in recent meetings between the waste sector and HMRC.
The new association, which will be not-for-profit and a limited company, will be known as the United Resource Operators Consortium (UROC), and a shadow committee has been created.
At present the shaping of UROC is being handled by the law firm Adjust Solicitors of Liverpool, Merseyside which has had experience of working with SMEs in the sector.
A spokesperson for UROC said: “Many in the industry do not feel that existing trade associations such as the Environmental Services Association represent our sector and they are not there for the SME.
“UROC will be there for the SME and the launch of the association comes as we look to help the industry with the landfill tax issue. We have been working on the idea of the trade association for the last 6-12 months.”
A statement from a shadow committee which has been formed to run the organisation was issued today as a letter to skip hire businesses and waste transfer station operators. It asks them all to support the new organisation which can be contacted by email at network@uroc.org.uk or currently through AdjustSolicitor, tel: 0845 1800 852. A website will be launched next week at www.uroc.org.uk.
HMRC guidance
The statement/letter to prospective members says: “You are more than aware from recent issues relating to landfill tax, which have arisen due to misleading guidance issued by HMRC on 18th May and subsequent unclear guidance issued on 1st June, we currently find ourselves in no better position and an impossible situation of operational constraint.”
The trade body UROC (United Resource Operators Confederation) has been launched which we consider will be of significant importance and is urgently required to represent our sector of the waste management industry (skip hire, waste transfer and materials recycling facilities). UROC is obviously still in its infancy but will serve to act as the main hub for communicating with the industry about all issues it faces, and in particular relating to the current landfill tax dispute with HMRC.
UROC has been established by a host of key waste industry members as a ‘not for profit’ trade body to act as a voice “from the industry for the industry”. One of the principle objectives is to provide and develop a strong voice for the industry to gain real political influence in our quest to simplify and remove existing barriers and government red tape. Members of UROC will be supported in various aspects of business infrastructure and management to facilitate growth and optimal productivity.
Range of benefits
The letter continues: “A range of benefits will be developed over the coming weeks, but as an urgent first step, we need your input into the debate about the form and content of the latest guidance note relating to Landfill Tax currently being produced by HMRC. Before issuing guidance for a third time, HMRC has invited input from our sector of the industry. This is a significant move by them and one which recognises that our part of the sector has not previously been represented at all in any debate or consultation over new policy and guidance. This welcome approach can result in meaningful input in any future debate with our wider views being fed through UROC.
“It is particularly important to hear your views as to how you consider your operation is able to demonstrate that the “trommel fines” it produces are derived from materials found on the Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material Order, 2011) and therefore subject to the lower landfill tax rate. Consideration should also be given as to whether trommel fines accurately describe the material and its intended purpose on landfill sites which is ultimately used as their daily cover. We really do want to go back to HMRC with a concise document that we can all work to that gives us certainty and assures the landfill operators that they are able to charge the correct lower tax rate.
Latest meeting
A further meeting involving all sectors involved with the landfill trommel fines and cover material issue takes place later today (Friday June 15).
A spokesman for ESA commented that with regard to SMEs, “The ESA has always had companies of all sizes in its membership.”
Note: updated, June 18, to give name of UROC as a consortium, rather than confederation.
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