EEF slams government waste strategy
1 min read
Out of date legislation, limited access to waste facilities and a looming resource crunch must spark a more radical approach from government to waste management, according to the manufacturers' organisation EEF.
The call is made in a review of the 'Government's Waste Strategy: six months on' in which the EEF calls for a shake up to unnecessarily complex, confusing and out of date legislation.
The call was backed by a survey of senior manufacturing leaders showing 80% now regard a shortage of raw materials as a risk to their business. Of these, two thirds said it was their top risk while others said that a shortage of raw materials was now a brake on growth.
EEF head of climate & environment, Gareth Stace, said: "Waste policy has for sometime been the forgotten element of the green agenda. But, with global demand for resources expected to soar in the future and manufacturers already rating raw material shortages as their biggest risk, we must not miss the opportunity to make the best of what we have."
EEF's report sets out three key priorities for action.
1. A clear and long term resource management strategy.
2. The simplification of waste legislation and guidance
3. Speedy delivery of necessary infrastructure and advice.
Convenient and affordable recycling facilities was a major barrier to business waste recycling, said EEF which has set out a number of recommendations including local authorities being compelled to make it easier for businesses to recycle.
