Press Statement
13 October 2017
NIC report a strong start but more needed on resource efficiency, says CIWM
CIWM has given a cautious endorsement of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC)’s report Congestion, Capacity, Carbon: Priorities for national infrastructure published today.
“CIWM and others in the sector have been working closely with the NIC over the past year or so. It is really positive therefore to see that the NIC has acknowledged the point we’ve been making that resource and waste management is a significant element of our national infrastructure beyond individual large projects. And the NIC’s caution about the future of electricity-only energy from waste is right, as is an emphasis on waste prevention, especially through tackling packaging issues,” says CIWM chief executive Dr Colin Church.
“CIWM also welcomes the continued placing of all this within the wider carbon agenda and the consultation document includes other points we would agree with, such as looking more closely at biogas and the important role that good data can play. We are particularly pleased to see the commitment to say more soon on the issues of poor data beyond the household waste stream; without accurate data and a clear policy framework for capturing secondary resources, we will continue to have polarised debate about infrastructure needs in this sector.
“On the other hand,” Dr Church continues, “the NIC disappointingly doesn’t seem to have taken on board the role secondary raw materials – beyond energy – could play in supporting other industries, from aviation and construction to automotive and computing. Whilst making a strong case for improved energy efficiency, the role of better resource efficiency is only implicit in the report.
“Overall, and taken together with yesterday’s Clean Growth Strategy, we can now at last see an overall policy picture emerging for the resource and waste management sector in England, something everyone has been seeking for quite some time. CIWM will continue to play its part in helping the NIC develop its thinking further in respect of the resource and waste management sector and we look forward to working with it in developing the full National Infrastructure Assessment over the coming months.”
The NIC’s report Congestion, Capacity, Carbon: Priorities for national infrastructure can be found here.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) is the leading professional body for the resource and waste management sector representing around 6,000 individuals in the UK, Ireland and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non-profit making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues. More information can be found at www.ciwm.co.uk
Press contact:
Pat Jennings
Head of Policy & Communications
Tel: 01604 620426
Mob: 07912 228260
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk