Joint letter to the European Commission urges greater focus on demand-side measures in circular economy package
11 November 2015
A number of the UK's leading representative bodies for the waste and resource management sector have sent a joint letter to the European Commission to reinforce the need for effective 'pull' or demand-side mechanisms in the forthcoming EU Circular Economy package.
According to recent leaks, the package is already likely to contain stronger drivers to 'push' waste out of landfill and up the Waste Hierarchy, including higher recycling and landfill diversion targets. However, the letter echoes the views expressed recently by FEAD1 that these need to be matched by measures to stimulate stronger and more stable market demand for recycled materials.
The letter, sent to the Commission's First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, and Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, says:
"Supply side actions have served us well in many respects to date, but they will be insufficient for the challenges ahead. We all share the ambition for a more circular economy, but we do not see the delivery of a circular economy coming purely from the operation of the market."
While acknowledging that the Commission is looking for 'lighter touch' regulation, the letter adds that this agenda should be seen as "an exception to the Commission's general rule, because to deliver the strong environmental and economic benefits of a circular economy requires a long term regulatory framework and market interventions that will stabilise and enhance the viability of increasing recycling".
A copy of the joint letter is published today alongside this statement and can be found here.
1 FEAD (European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services) letter to the European Commission, 21 Oct 2015 (http://www.fead.be/news/37-fead-news-homepage/122-letter-to-the-commission-on-need-for-binding-eu-targets)
NOTES:
1. The six representative bodies that make up the Trade Association Group (TAG), and have regular informal meetings are:
Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA)
(http://adbioresources.org)
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)
(http://www.ciwm.co.uk)
Environmental Services Association (ESA)
(http://www.esauk.org)
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
(http://www.ice.org.uk)
Renewable Energy Association (REA)
(http://www.r-e-a.net)
Resource Association (RA)
(http://www.resourceassociation.com)
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Toni Waters, Communications Manager - Environmental Services Association
Tel: 0207 591 3219
E-mail: t-waters@esauk.org
Pat Jennings, Head of Policy & Communications - CIWM
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk
Ray Georgeson, Chief Executive - Resource Association
Tel: 07711 069433
E-mail: ray.georgeson@resourceassociation.com