The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has inaugurated Trevor Nicoll as its 104th president.
Trevor Nicoll – the 2019/20 president of the CIWM – at the presidential dinner at Cambridge’s Guild Hall
At the ceremony in Cambridge yesterday (November 13) the waste sector body also launched a careers toolkit for young people and said it is ready to deal with political uncertainty affecting the industry.
In his speech, Mr Nicoll – who heads up the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service – highlighted the importance of engaging with the next generation of waste management professionals.
He said: “Young people must be asked: Will you be part of a sector that has so much to contribute to building a more sustainable and healthy future? Will you be part of a sector that will manage the valuable resources in our waste to protect our landscapes and our oceans?”
Mr Nicoll takes over the 2019/20 presidential role from Enda Kiernan, senior executive engineer at Cork county council.
Green Careers Toolkit
The inauguration also saw the launch of the Green Careers Toolkit. The resource – which will be online in the new year – is targeted at students in secondary schools and colleges and aims to showcase the range, relevance and diversity of jobs in the waste sector.
Developed for CIWM by Global Action Plan, the toolkit includes career profiles, information on the sector, teaching activities for teachers and specific links to the national curriculum.
Industry growth
Speaking to Letsrecycle.com after his inauguration at Downing College, Mr Nicoll says the institution is now on the upwards trajectory after a difficult period, and will now push to increase membership.
“After the past few years of challenges I think we are now back on our feet at CIWM, but what we need to do is build and grow from that.”
He explained: “After the past few years of challenges I think we are now back on our feet at CIWM, but what we need to do is build and grow from that.
“Our real push is about getting more members and actually getting the members involved to grow more – so to help them out with training and developing skills.”
Despite a turbulent political environment, Mr Nicoll said he felt “really positive” about the future of government policy on resources and recycling – though he also highlighted the importance of local authorities receiving funding to underpin the changes necessary to move in line with future government policy.
He commented: “One of the areas that we might need extra support in is actually moving from our long term contracts or PFI contracts, to ensure that that funding is there and that there is strength in government to allow us to move and adapt those contracts.
“We’ve dealt with uncertainty with Brexit and we’ll deal with uncertainty in politics. Local government is really used to doing that but we do need to move forward and we do need direction, because these changes can’t happen overnight.”
Related links
Green Careers Toolkit
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Source: letsrecycle.com General
