The Environment Agency and waste management trade body the Environmental Services Association have relaunched their Waste Industry Placement Scheme.
The Waste Industry Placement Scheme is a collaborative venture between the Environment Agency, Environmental Services Association (ESA) and their members, who operate recycling and waste treatment infrastructure.
It aims to provide Environment Agency officers with hands-on operational experience and support the sharing of knowledge between the regulator and industry.
Pre-pandemic, the scheme had been in place for 19 years, with around 30 officers taking part each year, the Environment Agency said.
The scheme is now being reinstated, with one-week placements with participating waste companies proposed to take place from June to September 2024.
The Waste Industry Placement Scheme is a brilliant example of the regulator and the regulated coming together to get a better understanding of how the other works.
Georgina Collins, Environment Agency Director for Energy & Resources, said: “The Waste Industry Placement Scheme is a brilliant example of the regulator and the regulated coming together to get a better understanding of how the other works.
“We want to make sure our officers have the best skills, knowledge and experience to do their jobs effectively, so we are delighted to reinstate this scheme so that more people can benefit.
“We look forward to collaborating with the ESA and the waste industry on the scheme for years to come.”
Jacob Hayler, the ESA’s Executive Director, said: “The Waste Industry Placement Scheme provides a great opportunity for EA officers to experience first-hand the wide range of operations undertaken by ESA members which will help develop a deeper mutual understanding of how regulation impacts and supports our sector.
“We believe unequivocally in the importance of having a strong and effective regulator and supporting the Agency in this way aligns with ESA’s core strategic objective to raise standards across the sector.
“Our members look forward to welcoming EA officers to their placements and working with them over the next few months.”
