Defra promised they will listen so it's time to be heard The start to 2019 has been just as hectic as I suggested in my last blog, even though the Defra consultations have been delayed by a few weeks.
Packaging needs a traffic-light system Though it may be a dangerous subject to start with, I want to focus on the only thing the nation appears to agree on concerning Brexit.
Defra's Brexit tweaks require some scrutiny As Brexit continues to dominate parliamentary matters, it’s worth noting the continual stream of EU exit regulations rolling out of Defra at the moment.
Lessons in toxic waste must be learnt from Brazilian mudslide On 1 February 2019, a dam storing Iron ore mining tailings collapsed in southeast Brazil.
Gove is providing some sort of stability- for now Our Government saw no fewer than nine ministerial resignations over Brexit in 2018.
Low risk, high fire safety construction products should be a priority Dame Judith Hackitt published a review of building regulations and fire safety ‘Building a safer future’ on the 17 May 2018, in the wake of the Grenfill fire disaster.
Government and industry must work together to make recycling a social norm Recycling helps to lower pollution, conserve resources, save energy, reduce deforestation and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The long-awaited Resources and Waste Strategy shows level of distraction Finally the Resources & Waste Strategy is here, but it’s a bit of an anti-climax thanks largely to the government focussing most of its attention on Brexit.
How councils can make their environmental services operations pay their way Conservation group WWF have reported that the amount of plastic waste the country produces is set to rise by 20% by 2030.
There's high hopes for the sector if you embrace change Christmas and the New Year period is an ideal time to reflect on the previous 12 months, as well as providing you with a chance to recharge the batteries and plan for the coming year.
Waiting for the Strategy with bated breath Defra’s Resources and Waste Strategy is still due to be published before the end of the year.
Hang on in there, things are looking up for the waste and resource sector Given continuing levels of austerity, budget cuts and general resourcing restrictions, nobody working in the world of waste and resource management should be finding workloads anything other than heavy right now.
Don't let Brexit stand in the way of environmental progress Why are we still waiting? I’m sure my impatience is not unique as another month passes without the release of the Resources and Waste Strategy.
The plastic debate needs to move forward It’s been interesting to follow the twists and turns of the debate around plastics over the years.
Regulation lags behind ambition for chemical recyclers As the mounting scale of pollution from plastic waste reaches ever alarming proportions, chemical recycling processes, turning non-recyclable plastic into reusable fuel, oil and back into plastic, represent a landmark breakthrough in the battle to save the planet’s environment.
Let's put an end to the waste industry 'manel' I have just celebrated my 17th anniversary of starting in the resources and waste industry (wasterversary?).
Why recycling is everybody's business Buzzwords like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ shouldn’t just apply to households, its time businesses step up to their duty of care over waste.
A huge time for the UK- and it's not just Brexit Will 2019 be remembered – at least by those in the waste industry – for the UK’s new stance on plastic, packaging and other recycling issues?
The UK needs more infrastructure to support a circular economy The announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond in the Autumn Budget that some of the income from the proposed tax on single-use plastics would be used to “improve the waste system” alongside wider action to tackle litter and single use plastics, is warmly welcomed.
Where will our resource and waste industry head to in 2019? Late October saw Defra launch its consultation on banning the distribution and sale of plastic straws, plastic-stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers in England
Our impasse with the EU and on waste have to end Brexit, for all its pitfalls, provides the freedom to run our economy, but what kind of economy do we want?
Tax the problem, not the solution, Mr Hammond The Chancellor has an opportunity in the upcoming Budget to set out a tax framework on plastics and recycling that makes the UK a world leader in sustainable resource management.
Conwy controversy shows how far we still need to go Residents’ anger at the Welsh council’s move to provide monthly refuse collections reveals a lack of public engagement and failure of policy – not just locally, but nationally.
We must engage in the discussions, share insights and help shape the future It seems a long time ago, but August was busy this year.
The public must be listened to while we reform our resource strategy I blinked and suddenly the leaves had begun to fall off the trees, I was reaching for my scarf and my walk home from work had got a lot darker.
Government and industry must work together to make recycling a social norm Recycling helps to lower pollution, conserve resources, save energy, reduce ...
Gove is providing some sort of stability- for now Our Government saw no fewer than nine ministerial resignations over Brexit in 2018.