The Recycling Association has said that the UK government’s new Environment Secretary, Theresa Villiers, should continue to implement the Resources & Waste Strategy developed by her predecessor. Chief Executive, Simon Ellin, praised the work of former Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Resources Minister Thérèse Coffey, who is remaining at Defra, for launching the Resources & Waste Strategy. He said, “Michael and Thérèse have developed a strategy that has the potential to transform the recycling sector for the better. The new Defra team, including Thérèse Coffey, needs to ensure that they do not dilute the measures included in it.
“From getting producers to pay the cost of recycling, to providing funding for local authority collections and importantly improving the quality of material collected for recycling, the Resources & Waste Strategy is a comprehensive and sensible plan that unites almost all of the stakeholders involved.
“While much of the detail is still being worked on and consulted on, I call on the new Secretary of State and ministerial team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to continue the good work of their predecessors and if possible, speed up implementing it.
“With a possibility of diminishing recycling capacity, it is vital that we produce high quality recycled materials to stimulate or maintain markets both at home and for export. Indeed, speedy implementation of the Resources & Waste Strategy will lead to investment in infrastructure, high quality collection of materials and a steady supply of recycled content for manufacturers.
“It would be a crying shame for so much progress to be thrown away on the basis of a change of ministers. The Recycling Association is keen to engage and help the new Defra ministers to continue implementing proposed policies that will benefit both the economy and the environment.”
