Minister Signals Strong Focus on Waste Crime at CIWM and ESA Annual Conference

Resource minister Dan Rogerson MP reinforced the government’s commitment to tackling waste crime this morning in his keynote address at the CIWM and ESA annual conference in London.

Emphasising the impact on both communities and the legitimate waste industry, the Minister said that Defra and the Environment Agency are committed to developing a policy and regulatory framework to ensure that waste crime is curbed, citing new sentencing guidelines and an extra £5m of government funding made available this year for enforcement. He added that the Government and the Agency are currently preparing a statement on further actions that will be taken to combat illegal waste activities.

Endorsing the move towards a more circular economy, Mr Rogerson said it is essential that we start to value materials in a different way and that this approach ties in with the wider sustainable consumption and production agenda. Defra has a role to play in facilitating the transition towards better resource efficiency, he added, and will continue to champion and support the waste and resource management industry. 

The Minister was speaking at the start of the two day conference which covers a number of issues that are currently engaging the industry, from planning and future policy beyond 2015, to the challenge of delivering higher quality recycling, and delivering the right services and infrastructure for the future. 

Many of the topics received their first airing in the Opening Panel debate, chaired by leading environmentalist Tony Juniper, with MPs from the main parties including Laura Sandys, Roger Williams, Joan Walley, and Green Party representative Jonathan Essex. The wide ranging debate explored issues including the role of the EU in the future to drive further progress on waste and resources, the validity of reconsidering ‘pay as you throw’ as a route to increasing recycling and the important of behaviour change. 

Summing up the session, Tony Juniper said that it it is clear that the UK is not yet where it needs to be, particularly in light of the higher targets being proposed by the European Commission.  We will need a clear roadmap, the right tools and integrated policies, and clear messages in the 2015 party manifestos. There also needs to be a reframing of the waste and resource debate to bring in the wider benefits it offers including jobs and a recognition of the important of ‘natural capital’.

Both CIWM and ESA have welcomed the Minsters comments. CIWM chief executive Steve Lee said:
“This joint conference emphasises the benefits of partnership working between the industry’s leading professional body and it main trade association. We warmly welcome the high level government and opposition presence at this year’s conference and hope that it helps key policy decision makers to better understand our sector’s priorities and needs.” 

ESA Director General, Barry Dennis said: “We are particularly encouraged to hear that waste crime continues to be a government priority and welcome the Minister’s commitment to further action in this area. ESA has already supported the recent ESAET waste crime report that has highlighted the true impact and cost to the UK economy, and we look forward to working with Defra and the Environment Agency on moving this agenda forward.”