Wood recyclers urged to lobby MPs over EA regulations

According to the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), a number of wood recyclers “genuinely fear for their livelihoods going forward” if the latest Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) guidance issued by the Agency last year “doesn’t change”.

It is therefore again calling on its members to contact their local MPs regarding concerns about the guidance, following the end of the Agency’s consultation on the plans on March 4.

The Environment Agency received 129 responses to the consultation from across the waste industry, but the WRA believes it is important that businesses continue to “keep up the pressure on decision makers”.

It is not known how many of these responses came from operators dealing specifically with waste wood, as the FPP guidance affects all combustible waste materials and the EA responses document available online does not name the respondents.

Tyre recyclers are another group of operators which have voiced their concern about the potential impact these regulations (see letsrecycle.com story).

FPP guidance

The guidance on storing waste materials was released by the Agency last year, setting out a number of stipulations on wood pile sizes, separation distances between piles and the amount of time for which material can be stored for.

It also requires operators to produce a Fire Prevention Plan for approval by the Agency, but very few if any wood recyclers are thought to have had an FPP fully approved by the EA.

The WRA is concerned that certain restrictions in the guidance are too strict and have “no scientific backing”, such as requirements for a 3-4 hour burn time, stock to be rotated on a 3-6 month basis and a reduction in stockpile limits.

WRA

The WRA said that the EA’s “inability to deviate from the minimum standards outlined in the FPP” is “unreasonable when operators are willing to implement additional safety and security measures”.

Chairman of the WRA and market development director at Suez, Andy Hill, told letsrecycle.com that while there was a “genuine level of concern” throughout the wood recycling sector and beyond over the EA guidance, there was on top of this an “even higher level of concern” from some operators more directly affected.

Mr Hill explained: “I think, as with all of these things, it is about what happens at a local level. EA officers will take a different approach and view of the guidance in different regions, and that drives a need for a more homogenous approach to the regulation.

“It is the view of the WRA that the EA guidance is not fit for purpose. And it is a fact that there is no scientific evidence for the FPP – there needs to be suitable regulation.”

Mr Hill added: “We all agree the need for an FPP for waste and recycling sites. The question has always been around the detail. The WRA and others would like an approach which allows for more flexibility within agreed realms of safety. And we would like the fire and rescue service to have more input at a local level. The WRA believes one size cannot fit all circumstances and we are hopeful we will be able to work with the EA on this going forward.

“These aren’t people trying to operate outside of the law. They are bona fide businesses of all sizes who want to continue running their business but who risk not being able to because of the restrictions placed on them in the FPP guidance.”