LAWR

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE LAWR looks ahead In the wake of swingeing public sector spending cuts and with England's recycling rates stalling, LAWR asks Novelis Europe sustainability and recycling development manager Andy Doran what is on the cards for 2015. 1) What are the main challenges the waste industry is facing in regards to: i) Policy and regulation. With a General Election in the short-term I doubt we will see too much new too soon, but of course we need to see how existing regulations like the MRF Regulations actually pan out in England, not least whether the Environment Agency is allocated sufficient resources (through grant and fees) to give it ome rigour. In Wales and Scotland there are some really interesting developments on 'Separate Collections Guidance' and 'Material Brokerage' to watch. England seems reluctant to follow any of the good leadership shown elsewhere in the United Kingdom, but let's hope in 2015 (post-election) someone sees the light. If noth- ing else it makes the overall cost of compliance for UK plc lower as harmonised regimes are in place. ii) Technology. Sorting, sorting and more sorting. Despite all our efforts we still need some step changes in sorting tech- nologies to close the reality gap on the circular economy. The aspiration is there but as long as we have a willingness to allow up to 10% of dry recyclables to go to waste after sorting…and still consider that best practice, we are deluding ourselves that the job is done. iii) The consumer/general public. Maintaining focus will be the key phrase. Whilst for many it has now become second nature to recycle, there are still many who need constant reminders. A reinvigorated Recycle Now campaign could help here. The media agenda is likely to be (sadly) set by the Daily Mail but I hope for everyone's sake it doesn't become a politi- cal football yet again in the run up to May. 2) How will your business respond to those challenges? We will continue to be the champions for quality, supporters of the circular economy and buyers of local authority collected aluminium drink cans! 3) What are the biggest opportunities for your business in the coming year and why? Alongside our packaging business we hope to continue to grow our support for a resurgent UK car manufacturing sec- tor by offering closed loop solutions to customers like Jaguar Land Rover and others. I also hope that our business, like others in the sector will find the space to voice their support for a global agreement on climate change and at the same time draw the public's attention to the important role that resource efficiency and management play in carbon reduction. There were some promising signs in the Lima negotiations in 2014 but let's hope that binding commitments are made in Paris this year. It may seem a little abstract to some LAWR readers but such a commitment will help underpin if not accelerate the development of so-called green economies globally and that's to everybody's benefit. 4) With the General Election in May what one thing would you like to see from the next Government and why? It seems somewhat optimistic to expect even one thing of English Government, but putting that scepticism aside for a moment it would be to grasp the opportunity of shaping the post-election industrial strategy truly around low-carbon, resource-efficient and sustainable business models. So that means less "green wash" and more green economy. It's a personal disappointment that the Coalition Government has failed on so many fronts, including the environment. My hope is it that next time round we embed low-carbon thinking into industrial policy and don't make it an afterthought. 5) If you could ban one word for the whole of 2015 what would it be and why? Oh there are too many to choose from…"Defra" would be one, as despite the efforts of civil dervants politically it's a dead end. As a phrase how about "Circular Economy" – enough talk let's just do it. But I guess my favourite would be "waste" – hopefully I don't need to say why? February 2015 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 15 Novelis Europe's Andy Doran

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