MRF Code Of Practice Message Is To Facilitate Not Dictate
29 June 2011
The decision on whether the recently revealed MRF Code of Practice will be mandatory rather than voluntary is expected to be confirmed autumn of this year, but it has been alluded to that the specifics would be largely down to MRFs and their partners
Defra policy lead on business, waste and recycling, Louise Clark, said the department would be conducting a cost-benefit analysis on the options over the summer and had "not ruled out making it mandatory."
Speaking at joint stakeholder event in Birmingham yesterday (28 June) - organised by WRAP, Defra, ESA and the EA - Clark said: "A decision will be made in the autumn, and if we decide to make it mandatory there will be a consultation."
However, when challenged to state how it would force these initiatives, Clark replied: "This government is not in the habit of forcing people."
The Code includes a quality management system and independent verification, where a third party audits the system and checks evidence. But rather than the Code specifying contamination levels, it was suggested that it would be up to MRFs and their partners to agree on specifications for inputs and outputs as part of their contracts.
Defining Quality
David Sher, ESA policy advisor, said quality was an area often talked about but in "slightly vague" terms, giving his own interpretation as being "about producing materials for recycling markets, not about a percentage or a standard, it's about a culture."
"MRFs are a vital part of our national effort to raise recycling levels," he said. "But with a wide range of MRFs in operation, and a disparate and rightly demanding customer base for MRF outputs, it's vital that the market for MRF outputs is transparent and efficient.
"In particular, it's important that MRF customers are confident that a MRF they contract has the ability to deliver the output specifications required. Our proposed Code of Practice would enable this."
Sher suggested that compliance with the scheme may entail costs and that getting local authority buy in and support would be "essential" to its success. He also commented that ESA was also keen to hear the views of the wider industry as well the stakeholders.
"We are conscious this is an ambitious approach and we don't want to have a scheme where there is an incentive not to sign up," he said. "It is hoped that customer choice will drive the system, as by working with MRFs who have signed up to the Code of Practice, they will have more assurance on materials quality.
When asked why the Code would not include maximum contamination levels, Sher replied: "I don't think it is our position as a trade association to say what the standards should be, we want to create a framework and a culture…we want to facilitate, not dictate."
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Darrel Moore
