Sector group to look at climate change impacts for waste

Under the auspices of the Defra-backed UK Climate Change Impact Programme, based in Oxford, work is getting underway to look at issues such as whether working practices will have to change and facilities modified or redesigned to meet the impact of the change.

Communications

Organisations involved in the Waste Communication Partnership, as the group is known, include: the Environment Agency, Environmental Services Association, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and the Local Government Association.

The group hopes to raise the level of debate across the industry and ensure that all operators are aware and adequately prepared.

Challenges

Dirk Hazell, chief executive of the Environmental Services Association, which represents the waste management sector, said: “Global warming presents real challenges for operators.

“ESA’s members are already helping to reduce the UK’s emissions of CO2 and action is also needed to adapt operations to the wetter winters and hotter summers that global warming is likely to bring.”

Mr Hazell added that the association, through its publications and communications with members would be emphasising “the need for our sector to change working practices and the design of facilities in the context of thorough analysis of the likely impacts of global warming. To secure such change, ESA will seek to raise the level of debate and increase focus across the sector.”

Greenhouse

A spokeswoman for UKCCIP said that the organisation was working with organisations in order “to adapt our way of life so that we can prepare for the changes that are already in the climate system, as well as limiting our future greenhouse gas emissions.”

She said that the work would in a partnership and that the waste and recycling was one of a number groups with which UKCCIP was working.