VIDEO REPORT: The head of partnerships at compliance specialist Ecosurety has urged all stakeholders in the industry to ringfence time to respond to the Resources and Waste Strategy consultations, to ensure representativity of all groups.
Speaking with letsrecycle.com, Jon Brookes said despite the complex and time-consuming process, the “seismic” impact of the proposals mean its vital the industry takes the time to respond. Mr Brookes added that Ecosurety and other schemes and industry groups are taking steps to help make it easier.
The deadline for responses to the consultations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) and a deposit return scheme (DRS) is 4 June. The consistent collections consultation finishes a month later.
Mr Brookes said: “We saw from the first round of Resources and Waste Strategy consultation that the responses were relatively poor from some stakeholder groups, particularly from producers and reprocessors. Less than 2% of registered producers responded and there were fewer than 30 reprocessors.
“This is understandable given the complexities of the issues and frankly the time it takes to digest this information and respond, but it’s vital we do all we can to get as many people on board as possible.”
Webinars
Ecosurety is publishing its full consultation responses tomorrow, meaning producers can “piggyback” off it and focus on the questions which matter most to them.
Mr Brookes added that Ecosurety has been running a series of free webinars covering the consultations, with one assessing the compliance scheme’s response taking place tomorrow. Information on this webinar can be found here.
“It’s really important that producers, recyclers and all stakeholders engage thoroughly with the process”
Mr Brookes continued: “It’s really important that producers, recyclers and all stakeholders engage thoroughly with the process. Yes, work with industry groups or compliance schemes but make sure you get a response in. The number of responses is going to be important, not just the gravitas of a brand name behind the response.
“We need to do everything we can to enable people to engage in this process, recognising the time it takes and some gaps in expertise you’d expect. Myself, industry groups and other schemes are doing a lot of work to try and digest some of this information. We’ve been hosting webinars and sharing summary guides which break down and pull out some of the key areas of the consultations, and we will continue to do that.
“By publishing our responses ahead of the deadline, others can piggyback off that information. It is really important that message gets through. Get support, but if you do anything prior to that 4 June date, ringfence 30 minutes or an hour to focus on four or five of the big questions for you.
“People can put your own response in, and copy and paste other bits from someone else you’re aligned with, that’s a key message. We must do everything we can to get everybody involved in something so seismic in terms of its impact.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
