LAWR

NEWS January 2015 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 5 FOR MORE NEWS AND ANALYSIS VISIT www.edie.net /waste Europe's transition to a circu- lar economy is reportedly under threat with a number of sug- gestions that the European Commission's Circular Economy package could be completely abol- ished. The package, which was launched earlier this year under the stewardship of former Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, requires member states to recycle 70% of municipal waste and 80% of packaging waste by 2030. But it is currently being reviewed by the new President of the European Commission, Jean- Claude Juncker, along with legis- lation that is still pending on air quality. According to reports coming out of Brussels, some business organi- sations may be successful in lob- bying the EU to drop the Circular Economy Package entirely. It follows similar reports from the trade press. As LAWR went to press, Juncker was due to give a state- ment on the matter. In a joint statement, members of the Trade Association Group (TAG) expressed "dismay" about the issue. They said that there was a broad consensus that "the Circular Economy package offers huge potential for green job crea- tion, resource security, environ- mental protection and economic growth." Potocnik's Circular Economy package under threat Waste and resource management sector outlines key priorities for next Government The major trade bodies representing the UK's waste management and recycling sector have written to the main political parties in England sum- marising the key policy proposals that they would like to see implemented after the May 2015 General Election. The priorities hinge on four key pol- icy areas, ranging from expanding the market for recycled and reused products through to combating waste crime. A joint statement from the six bodies that make up the Trade Association Group (TAG) - The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and Resource Association was written last year (8 December). The letter states: "The resource management industry makes a sub- stantial contribution to the British economy. According to UKTI, the value of goods and services produced by the sector is over £12 billion a year, and it employs over 150,000 people. "The industry is expected to con- tinue to expand, with the Treasury forecasting growth of over 3% for waste management and 4% in recov- ery and recycling. "As well as providing jobs and economic growth across the country, the industry supplies important raw materials for manufacturers in the UK and beyond, and helps to protect local communities from environmen- tal blight." The trade bodies have called on Government to establish an Office for Resource Management, headed by a Minister, to lead and co-ordinate government policy on resource effi- ciency and waste prevention across departments. They have also urged Westminster to expand the market for reused and recycled products and materials by reforming government procurement rules, putting appropriate economic incentives in place, and placing a sus- tained emphasis on public communi- cation and engagement. The letter also states that they would like Government to "stimu- late private investment in new waste treatment, recycling and reprocessing facilities by setting long-term policy goals and targets - along the lines recently proposed by the EU - work- ing with industry and stakeholders to develop methods to achieve them". Elsewhere, the issue of tackling waste crime was also a concern. New waste collection system for Wakefield DOWN TO BUSINESS - Vince Cable was a high-profile guest of plastics recycling firm MBA Polymers when the firm took the business secretary on a tour of its Worksop plant. The minister was met by MBA's chief executive Nigel Hunton last year and was given a presentation of the company's story, before embarking on a tour around the facility. Wakefield Council has agreed to move to fully commingled recycling collections this year, after council officers found that separate collections were neither economically nor envi- ronmentally practicable. Currently, the council collects residual waste and recyclables on a fortnightly basis, with paper and card- board collected in a wheeled-bin, and glass, plastic bottles and metals in a recycling box. By using WRAP's route map, Wakefield Council undertook a TEEP assessment earlier this year to deter- mine whether separate collections would be practicable. Last year, the council's cabi- net agreed to introduce a '3 Stream Collection Service', which includes a fortnightly wheeled bin collections for residual waste and fortnightly wheeled bin collections for mixed dry recyclables, such as paper and card- board, plastic bottles and metals. Industry urges Westminister to tackle waste crime

• Cover