The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), a professional body for the waste management sector has today (16 October), launched a report outlining the ‘current picture’ of waste and resource management at the House of Commons.
The ‘Professional Perspectives on Waste & Resource Management’ report was released by CIWM President John Skidmore, after he had been officially inaugurated as the 2012/13 CIWM President at the House of Commons. Skidmore takes over as President from Derek Greedy.
The report calls on industry and government to ‘rise to the resource efficiency challenge’ and emphasises that the ‘big challenges’ faced by the waste and resource industry will demand a ‘co-ordinated approach across national boundaries and involving all stakeholders’.
Speaking at the event, Skidmore called for more government leadership and said that the waste prevention plans required by the Waste Framework Directive offer “a unique opportunity to put in place a long term vision to design out waste by ensuring that the roles and responsibilities at every stage of the product supply chain are recognised”.
Adding that “quality is paramount” to both service delivery and recycling performance and could resolve some of the “current tensions” regarding recycling collection methods, Skidmore went on to say that though there is no "one size fits all" approach, with over half local authorities operating co-mingled collections, it is essential to develop quality protocols, starting with a MRF code of practice.
“We need measures to encourage businesses to capitalise on the value of secondary materials and waste-derived energy, recognising that dependency on sending these resources abroad may not be desirable or sustainable in the longer term. Governments must help to plan to keep waste and resources working here in the UK and Ireland, and that means working at a larger than local level and through inter-governmental collaboration”, he said.
Delivering new infrastructure, increasing support to “address barriers” including planning and investment and continuing the momentum in progress made in the industry so far were also highlighted as key priorities by Skidmore.
“With resource and energy security issues high on the agenda, and the spectre of climate change now ever present, we are at an exciting tipping point. We may need to work with, rather than against, the economic situation in which we find ourselves but there is no doubt that now is the time to be ambitious, to break down barriers, and to formulate a long term vision for waste management and resource use and conservation – not just for the term of one government, not even for the next decade, but for the next 100 years and more.”
Read the Professional Perspectives on Waste and Resource Management.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.