MP Barry Gardiner, the shadow Minister for the Natural Environment, has highlighted the need to improve resource security in the UK in order to encourage investment in a circular economy.
During his keynote speech of the second day of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Environmental Services Association (ESA) annual conference he said: “We need an economy that is more resilient to the rising cost of raw materials… As commodity prices rise, so does inflation, but that rise also depresses economic activity and reduces growth. That is why resource security is a priority for me.”
The minister continued to suggest that the waste and resource management sector could act as “a turbo charger” in the UK economy, supporting and driving growth particularly by delivering new jobs.
Throughout his speech, Gardiner called for the government to play “a strategic role to ensure that the UK has the sort of resource efficient economy that can be more competitive” and more “resilient to commodity price shocks”.
Labour Party plans
As shadow minister, Gardiner also outlined the Labour Party’s agenda on resource security.
Plans include a Stern Review to acquire data on resource security for government and businesses and investment in domestic recycling and reprocessing capacity.
In addition, Labour would bring plans to give the Green Investment Bank (GIB) borrowing powers forward to April 2015 from the current 2018 deadline while also tasking GIB to carry out an investigation into current barriers to investment in the industry.
Read more about the 2014 CIWM and ESA conference.
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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.