The new Secretary of the State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs needs to recognise the value in waste, according to FCC.
Michael Gove (pictured) was appointed to the role in Defra by Prime Minister Theresa May following the recent General Election, and FCC believes he can help shape a waste sector following Brexit.
FCC Environment chief executive Paul Taylor said: “We welcome Michael Gove as the new Defra Secretary of State and look forward to working with him to ensure all areas of Whitehall understand and value the importance of the UK’s waste and resources sector.
“As many within our sector will know, for a long time now UK waste policy has been largely ignored – in no small part because it is one of a number of policy areas which the UK has ceded almost all control of to the EU. This has meant that there have been limited opportunities for the UK to decide the direction of its own domestic waste policy. The sector’s ability to contribute to the UK’s growth and productivity has also been limited, with other sectors edging ahead in the race to increase competitiveness and resource productivity.
“As the new Government begins to take shape, and as we move towards an exit from the EU, now is the time for the waste sector to come together and call for a step change in how the UK’s waste and resources sector is viewed in this country. Historically, Defra has been seen as one of the weakest departments in Government, but the reality is that it has a major role to play in both the negotiations and in preparing for life after Brexit. Although the road ahead is still very unclear, what we do know is that we now have an opportunity to have a frank conversation about the value in waste, and how it can help to boost the country’s competiveness.
“We look forward to tackling these challenges and to meeting with Mr Gove at the earliest opportunity”.
