In a speech at RWM yesterday (12 September), Gavin Shuker MP, Labour's Shadow Waste and Resources Minister, criticised the government's environmental policy for leaving the UK as the 'dirty man' in Europe.
In his speech, which comes in advance of the party's soon-to-be-published 'Resource Security: Generating growth and jobs from waste’ policy review, Shuker emphasised political leadership as the key factor to creating green jobs and economic growth. He also called upon Defra to take a more ambitious stance on waste by aiming for higher recycling targets that would bring England in line with Wales and Scotland.
"Britain faces a choice", Shuker said, "to embrace the opportunity to create new sustainable jobs through ambitious and consistent government leadership, or to slip back once again as the 'dirty man of Europe'. Labour's policy review has a clear focus: to generate sustainable growth and new jobs in and through the waste industry.
"England can no longer merely scrape over the bar with such unambitious recycling targets while other nations pull ahead. Aligning our recycling targets with the rest of the UK will create jobs and promote growth."
Alistair Campbell also spoke at a keynote address and repeated Shuker's concerns that the environment is dropping lower and lower on the government's priority list.
For more information on the RWM exhibition in partnership with CIWM, visit RWM's website.
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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.