SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK has issued an open letter to the UK Government on behalf of its 50 local authority partners to call for urgent action to achieve a zero-waste economy.
SUEZ, which manages waste for over 50 local authorities, issued the open letter to outline its vision for a zero-waste economy.
The French-based utility company said delays to key policy reforms due to the Government’s lack of clarity to date have stalled progress in the sector.
SUEZ and its local authority partners are calling on Government to accelerate waste reforms to help meet the UK’s environmental targets and pave the way for a circular economy.
The letter reads: “The waste service industry is an essential front-line service, delivering weekly collections and daily processing, as well as playing a crucial role in energy generation and materials recycling.
“It is critical that these important services are not forgotten in decision making, and remain at the heart of environmental policy, so our industry can help unlock more sustainable outcomes.”
SUEZ argues that to make the UK Government’s ambitions a reality the waste and resource sector needs a clear policy pathway which the Conservative Government failed to deliver on.
The key asks outlined in the letter are to provide clarity and simplicity in policy, effective funding and support, and drive behaviour change.
The letter said clear timelines and targets for Government waste reforms will be crucial for effective and timely decision-making by local authorities and service providers. It cites the implementation plan for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as an example that “requires urgent clarification”.
For too long, policymaking has been subject to competing demands and asks from different departments, and we urgently need a joined-up approach right across Government.
The letter also said confirmed funding support from Government for waste management, including via EPR, will be key to ensuring quality local services can continue to be delivered consistently across the UK.
SUEZ and its local authority partners called for a national campaign to promote greater consumer and business understanding of the circular economy and improve consumer participation in local recycling schemes.
Commenting on the letter, Dr Adam Read MBE, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer at SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, said: “We are at critical juncture in the development of a more sustainable, resource efficient economy.
“For too long, policymaking has been subject to competing demands and asks from different departments, and we urgently need a joined-up approach right across Government.
“Our industry, alongside our local authority partners and customers, are keen to play our part supporting the development of policies; the delivery of communications campaigns; and the crowding-in of capital that will be crucial in transforming the UK’s management of waste towards a more sustainable and effective future.”
