Mr Barclay was named as Environment Secretary as part of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle (see letsrecycle.com story). He will now get to work naming his ministerial team.
So far, the MP for Keighley has named Robbie Moore MP as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Defra. His family run a plastics recycling company specialising in farm plastics. While specific responsibilities are to be decided, Defra has said that “ministerial portfolios will be confirmed in due course”.
We are delighted to welcome the new Secretary of State @SteveBarclay to Defra. pic.twitter.com/23cotVTZ1U
— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) November 13, 2023
‘Close relationship’
The Chartered Institution for Wastes Management (CIWM) outlined that it looks forward to “developing a close working relationship” with Mr Barclay to “support the UK economy in making meaningful progress towards its 2050 net zero target and accelerate the development of a more circular economy”.
Lee Marshall, policy & external affairs director at the institution, said: “CIWM applauds recent progress made by the UK government with the release of the Simpler Recycling, digital waste tracking and carriers, brokers and dealers reforms. Alongside packaging EPR, these changes will set the policy context for household and commercial waste management for the next decade and beyond, so it is vital that the new secretary maintains recent momentum on the resources and waste part of their brief.
“There are still key aspects of the reforms that require more detail in order to drive change and unlock investment from the sector. CIWM believes the EPR Scheme Administrator formation, statutory guidance on Simpler Recycling, and digital waste tracking reforms are just some of the items that should be at the top of his agenda.
“The Government has promised further EPR reforms on other waste streams such as textiles, WEEE and batteries, and we urge the new Secretary of State to get his department working and consulting on these areas as soon as possible. CIWM and the UK resources and waste management sector are committed to driving the development of the circular economy and want to work with the Government to realise this ambition and move to a world beyond waste.”
Momentum
With many negative headlines on sewage discharges in recent months, Thérèse Coffey’s name was mentioned as soon as the cabinet reshuffle was announced.
However, in recent months the long-awaited publication of Simpler Recycling and more policy clarity around the packaging waste reforms had meant the sector was feeling more optimistic.
It is hoped that Mr Barclay will not see the role as a “demotion” from the Health Secretary, as some national media outlets have said, and continue the recent more positive moves on waste reforms.
‘Stay the course’
The message to continue momentum was also echoed by compliance expert Ecoveritas, which has urged the government to “stay the course on environmental reform, as Defra welcomes its fifth Environment Secretary in just over four years amidst another shake-up at the top of government”.
Andrew McCaffery, chief strategy officer at the company, said: “It’s incredibly hard for businesses to build a trusting relationship with Defra when the direction from the top is continually changing.We would urge the government to take this opportunity to refocus and recommit to its environmental strategy – stay the course and let businesses plan for the future with confidence.
“We’ve already seen uncertainty plague the rollout of the single-use plastic ban and EPR, with many businesses still unsure or unaware of their obligations. Now is the time for the new Environment Secretary to offer clarity on the future of his policy – not more uncertainty.”
Subscribe for free