Six waste and resource management bodies have written a joint letter to the main political parties in England summarising the key policy proposals that they would like to see implemented after the May 2015 general election.
The Trade Association Group (TAG) – comprising the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), Environmental Services Association (ESA), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Renewable Energy Association (REA), and Resource Association (RA) – have written to members of parliament (MPs), outlining that although the resource management industry makes a ‘substantial contribution to the British economy’ (producing goods and services worth over £12 billion a year), it needs a ‘supportive policy framework’ to ‘invest in the new facilities needed to improve the efficient use of resources in the UK economy’
The letter reads: ‘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 continue to expand, with the Treasury forecasting growth of over 3% for waste management and 4% in recovery 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 environmental blight.
‘For the resource management industry to maximise the economic, social, and environmental benefits it can deliver for Britain, it needs to work in partnership with central and local government, and with regulators. A supportive policy framework is essential if the industry is to invest in the new facilities needed to improve the efficient use of resources in the UK economy.’
As such, TAG puts forward four ‘key policies’ for the political parties to include in their party manifestos for the 2015 General Election:
- establish an Office for Resource Management, headed by a Minister, to lead and coordinate government policy on resource efficiency and waste prevention across departments;
- expand the market for reused and recycled products and materials by reforming government procurement rules, putting appropriate economic incentives in place, and placing a sustained emphasis on public communication and engagement ;
- stimulate 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 -working with industry and stakeholders to develop methods to achieve them; and
- protect local communities, safeguard the environment, and reduce tax evasion by ensuring that enforcement bodies and local authorities are properly resourced to combat waste crime.
The group says it will ‘continue to work collaboratively in the New Year to reinforce the important role this industry can play in securing sustainable, long-term, economic growth’.
Find out more about the estimated value of the waste and resource industry.
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