The former deputy prime minister, Thérèse Coffey was announced on 25 October as Defra secretary following the resignation of her predecessor Ranil Jayawardena.
Coffey, the first female MP for Suffolk Coastal, previously held a ministerial post in the State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between 25 July 2019 and 8 September 2019.
Following Boris Johnson becoming prime minister, Coffey was promoted from her junior minister role to Work and Pensions secretary. A position she held until Liz Truss became PM on 6 September when she was made Health secretary and appointed deputy prime minister.
Rishi Sunak promised to protect “our environment” in his first speech as PM leading to hope amongst green activists. Under his predecessor, green policies were perceived as under threat and Truss’ enthusiasm for fracking was seen as a cause for concern.
CIWM echoes its recent calls for the Government to release the outcomes of the DRS and Consistent Collections consultations.
Former Defra secretary, Jayawardena also seemed to be in favour of deregulation, stating at the Conservative Party conference that his job was to “leave farmers alone”.
CIWM welcomed the new Environment secretary to her post in a statement. “The Institution looks forward to developing a close working relationship with Dr Coffey which will support the UK economy in meeting its 2050 net zero target and accelerate the development of a more circular economy.
“CIWM echoes its recent calls for the Government to release the outcomes of the DRS (Deposit Return Scheme) and Consistent Collections consultations. Alongside packaging EPR, these changes will set the policy context for household and commercial waste management for the next decade and beyond.
“More than ever, however, it is essential that we maintain a period of stability and consistency that will allow the new Secretary of State and her team to bring about positive change. Failure to do so will further damage confidence and impact much-needed innovation and investment.
“CIWM and the UK waste and resource management sector are committed to driving the development of the circular economy and want to work with the Government to realise this ambition and move to a world beyond waste.”
In Thérèse Coffey, we have a Secretary of State who is well-versed in the UK’s resources and waste management sector.
Commentating on the appointment, Executive Director of the ESA, Jacob Hayler, said: “Welcoming new ministers to Defra seems to be happening with alarming regularity these days, but in Thérèse Coffey, we have a Secretary of State who is well-versed in the UK’s resources and waste management sector, having served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary with responsibility for resource and environment management between 2016 and 2019 – during which time the Government announced its flagship Resources and Waste Strategy.
“While this feels like a back-to-the-future moment, our industry still awaits these flagship reforms and the new Secretary of State is now in a fantastic position to finish what she started and get them over the line – helping our sector to create a more circular economy, while also delivering growth and jobs across the UK.”
