The memorandum is a formal agreement which says that the two organisations will work closer together. Chris Murphy, deputy chief executive of the IWM, said: “The ESA and IWM have signed a memorandum of understanding which will lead to greater co-operation and collaboration between the two major players in the waste industry.”
Speaking at the IWM conference today Stephen Jenkinson, chairman of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) said: “Partnerships are vital to meet the challenges of the Waste Strategy and to achieve environmental sustainability. The memorandum of understanding will serve the interests of the industry and provide the foundation for us to work together in the years ahead.”
Dr Jane Price, IWM’s communications manager, said: “It is a very positive step as we are both working towards the same goals and that is to achieve good practice in the waste industry.”
The ESA added that they will build on the agreement and Mr Jenkinson said: “The industry will be better served by IWM/ESA as it will add more value to waste, we want to see it as a material with a value within the economy.”
The move is the latest partnership initiative in the waste industry. The Energy From Waste Association has recently merged with the ESA. Mr Jenkinson, chairman of ESA, said that the merge will lead to a “better co-ordinated stronger body” and that energy recovery was vital in meeting the Waste Strategy targets.
But Mr Jenkinson added that the industry needs more help from the government and said: “The government needs to understand the partnership that we are offering. The ESA hopes the government will feel able to give both leadership for the industry and create potential to achieve sustainability.”
Register for free to comment