WRAP drops local authority director post

The decision, which has surprised some in the recycling sector, means that WRAP is set to swing away from its original dual remit of market development and support for local authorities to focus instead on activities such as technical work, retail support, producer responsibility and publishing information about markets for materials.

However, WRAP has offered an assurance that a level of work with local authorities will remain.

Technical work will include facilitating Defras input to European Union strategies for waste minimisation with special emphasis on the design of a product at the beginning of its life to promote recycling and resource recovery, a move encouraged by the EUs thematic strategy on recycling.

As part of a streamlining operation, the steering of WRAPs local government activities will now be coordinated by its current director of market development programmes, Marcus Gover. He will move to a new post entitled head of closed loop economy.

Mr Govers new post forms part of the restructuring of the organisation which is still being thrashed out. WRAP chief executive Dr Liz Goodwin and other senior officials have been meeting with Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland executive to discuss priorities for 2011/12.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Nick Gammage, head of communications at WRAP, said: Under the restructuring there are a number of areas we have identified which are key areas for the people who fund us. The actual details are being discussed but the types of things that Philip did are still going to be concentrated on but they will be moved to form parts of the wider strategy.

Mr Gammage added that Mr Gover, in his new position, will look at markets and work with reprocessors of material and Richard Swanell, who is currently director of design and resource minimisation, will look at designing out waste in the first place. Mr Gammage said these issues are two great priorities for all of our funders.

Furthermore, Mr Gammage said that the new roles were set to come into effect post April 1 and added that, while future staff levels were not known, new jobs would be developed.

Budget

WRAPs 2010/11 business plan is set to run-out in March 2011 but a new plan covering 2011 to 2015 will not be issued until after the publication of findings of the governments review of waste policy, which is scheduled for May 2011.

The new business plan will look to take into account the 27.9% budget cut enforced on the organisation by Defra at the end of December 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Industry sources had speculated at the time of the Defra announcement that the cuts to WRAPs operational budget could see it move away from the level of local authority work it currently performs.

However, Mr Gammage sought to downplay concerns that the merger of Mr Wards role into Mr Govers portfolio indicated a change of focus. He said: There were some concerns that if we dont have a local government member then we wont have a local government focus; but absolutely we will.