WAMITAB CEO joins Waste Policy Review Group

Chris James, WAMITAB CEO, has been invited to join the consultation led by Gaven Shuker, Shadow Minister for Waste in respect of Labour's policy review.

This is recognition of the key role that WAMITAB plays in providing a strategic framework and foresight for qualifications in the Waste Management Industry with partners CIWM.

The group seeks to illuminate keys issues such as recruitment, training, retention, zero waste, energy generation in the next 5 – 10 and 20 years; all significant issues that will have a big impact on the GDP.

Research questions:
• How can we create new sustainable jobs within the waste and energy sector over the next 5, 10 and 20 years?

Vision
• What do we want our economy, environment and waste sector to look like in the next 5, 10 and 20 years?
• What countries are ahead of the pack in terms of achieving a zero-waste economy?
• What are the opportunities to create jobs in the waste, recycling and resources sectors over the next 5, 10 and 20 years?

Challenges
• What are the current hurdles for creating growth and jobs in the waste sector? And how can we take advantage of the waste sector to boost growth and grow our economy in a time of adversity?

Consequences
• What would the costs be to our economy if we don't move to a zero waste economy?

Benefits
• How many jobs may be created if we move to a zero-waste economy and what will be the benefit to the economy?

Data and information
• What data and reporting techniques are currently available to measure how much waste is going to landfill?
• How do we currently evaluate if Government interventions are assisting the waste industry? Is this adequate?
• What data and reporting measures need to be improved to ascertain a better understanding of our challenges.

Infrastructure and local council guidance
• How can Government assist local councils to achieve value for money waste collection which both meet the community's expectations and needs and does community and the environments?
• How can we improve current planning laws to create greater certainty for waste industry investors?
• How can we ensure quality recycling feedstock is kept in the UK and recycled in the UK?
• What waste technology should we prioritise in the UK?

Achieving a circular economy
• How can we work with producers and businesses to 'design out waste' in the first instance?

The community's role
• What can be done to encourage recycling at home and in businesses to recycle?

The Governments role
• What is the role of government in setting targets and providing market certainty in the waste and resource efficiency sectors?
• How can we integrate our waste strategy across government departments to ensure all government decisions where applicable are focused on achieving a zero waste economy?
• How can the false divide between the waste and energy sector be unlocked?