Ahead of the Autumn statement later today (November 23), the government has been urged to provide longer term support for recycling and certainty over future landfill tax rates.
The call from the Environmental Services Association (ESA), the trade association representing the UK’s waste management industry, comes as other figures in the sector also called for the opportunity “not to be wasted”.
The Autumn Statement is due to be announced today at 12.30pm
According to the ESA, the UK waste management industry has achieved great success in diverting waste from landfill, but the sector currently faces “a number of “increasingly urgent challenges” such as rising waste volumes, waste crime and a slump in commodity prices.
To help tackle this, the ESA is urging the Treasury to take action in five areas:
- Explore reforming and extending current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to make producers responsible for the environmental impact of their products.
- Help the waste management industry attract investment in new facilities through the introduction of new Green Infrastructure Investment Allowances.
- Consider introducing Green Public Procurement rules in favour of recycled materials to boost recycling in the UK.
- Provide long term certainty that landfill tax will remain at current real levels to help the industry plan and build for the future.
- Continue to support the Environment Agency and HMRC to tackle waste crime.
Commenting on this, ESA executive director Jacob Hayler said: “We believe that these measures will unlock the investment needed in our industry to enable us to deliver economic growth, thousands of new jobs and a greener, cleaner Britain.”
The call from the ESA received support via twitter from CIWM and former director of the Dorset Waste Partnership, Steve Burdis, who today tweeted: “Hoping for an Autumn Statement which is not a waste”.
The South West Charter for Growth was presented to 10 Downing Street by local MPs, Pennon and the CBI yesterday
South West
Elsewhere ahead of today’s Autumn Statement, MPs and businesses from the South West of England, including representatives from Pennon – the parent company of waste management company Viridor – submitted a ‘South West Growth Charter’ to 10 Downing Street. The charter outlines key initiatives that the group hope the Government will implement and support to enable growth and prosperity in the South West.
Sarah Heald, director of corporate affairs at Pennon Group said: “The South West is a place where innovative, successful businesses like Pennon are able to thrive in spectacular surroundings. But more than that, the South West is a peninsula perfectly positioned to drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
”Today MPs from across the region threw their weight behind the South West Growth Charter sending a resounding message to Government that the South West is ready for a new partnership for growth, recognising its true potential. The South West is a great place to live, invest and do business. We look forward to tomorrow’s autumn statement as an opportunity for Government to #backthesouthwest.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
