New strategy sets the direction of travel but a lot of detail yet to be filled in
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
Responding to the Government’s Resources & Waste Strategy published this morning, CIWM has welcomed the scope and ambition in the document but notes that there is a lot more detailed work to be done in the New Year to turn the proposals into action.
“This strategy provides a much-needed framework to reboot recycling and support progress towards a more circular economy," says CIWM Executive Director Chris Murphy. “It proposes many measures that CIWM has long been calling for, including fundamental reform of packaging producer responsibility, new producer responsibility schemes for other challenging waste streams such as tyres, and the full roll out of separate food waste collection. Importantly, the strategy also acknowledges the need for action right at the top of the waste hierarchy. As well as a focus on food waste prevention and measures to address some of the key barriers to reuse and remanufacture, CIWM also welcomes the commitment to mirror the EU level ambitions to extend eco-design to embrace resource efficiency.
“The range of measures to tackle waste crime are also important and reflect the work done by CIWM, ESA and others to keep this growing problem on the Government's agenda. The proposal for mandatory electronic tracking of waste, meanwhile, will not only help to prevent waste crime but will also provide better data to ensure that the economic value of secondary materials can be fully captured.
“There is still a lot of hard work to do, however, and we have an unrivalled opportunity as a sector to engage with Government over the next few months as the raft of expected consultations are launched. Our collective objective must be to create a policy framework that will support a smarter, more holistic approach to resource management, properly link our sector into the circular economy and the clean growth agenda and leverage the necessary investment in efficient reuse and recycling services to ensure that current and future targets for household and business waste recycling can be met.”
CIWM and other key bodies including INCPEN, ESA, Resource Association and WRAP will be holding a major engagement event in London on 13th February to bring together stakeholders from across the sector to discuss the future of packaging producer responsibility, the role of a Deposit Return Scheme and the consistency agenda. In addition, over the course of the next few months, CIWM will also be providing a range of briefings and opportunities for members to engage fully with the consultations – both in their individual professional capacities and to inform and shape CIWM’s responses.
