I
previously wrote about quality issues in waste collections and with China adopting more
stringent standards it is becoming mission critical to improve quality across the sector.
Personally, I think China should have done this years ago, in the 21st century it is fundamentally unacceptable that we should export ‘crap’ to other countries to sort!!
Simon Ellin eloquently discusses the impacts and indeed opportunities from the ‘China Eff ect’ with a number of other contributors discussing the RPS on wood, the EA review of charges and changes to enforcement.
All of this is a sign of the industry transitioning from old school waste management mentality, ‘dig and dump’, to resources and circular economy ideologies. Obviously, this is a simplistic statement but we have all had to change how we operate over the last 10 years and it is clear industry will need to further develop over the next 10 years.
Costs of running a waste business seem to increase on an almost monthly basis, the Agency are making substantial increases in charges across the sector which will likely be implemented from 1st April 2018. T ese combined with other regulatory changes will make some wonder why stay in the industry!
So, can we still make a profi t? T e answer is absolutely, but only by being smarter using appropriate technology focussing on quality outputs and fundamentally changing mindsets now that it is all about end markets and best value. Inevitably, the cost of doing business will increase and these charges will
have to be passed on to customers, with increasing fees in some cases by over 150% these additional regulatory costs cannot be absorbed by operators.
On the other hand there have been some idiotic moves, in my view, by some to cut gate fees to gain market share. T is has led to the point where for some business’ it is not fi nancially viable leading to an increase in insolvency within the sector.
T ere needs to be a realisation that to operate in our sector there is a signifi cant cost to secure compliance and other hidden costs, before taking into account basic business costs nobody should be cheap, but we should of course all off er good value.
Ultimately, we need a level playing fi eld where everybody adheres to the rules, aims to operate to the highest standards and drives out the small percentage of cowboys and criminals whose activities cause our sector an unfair adverse reputation.
Finally, to go back to the RPS on wood it is important everyone dealing with wood ensures the following is added to Waste Transfer Notes ‘unassessed compliant with RPS 207’
T is should be on all WTNs unless the wood is from a known source and can be guaranteed to be 100% untreated. Should any railway sleeper of telegraph pole be found in mixed waste wood, these must be removed and consigned as hazardous waste.
by CHARLIE TROUSDELL Th e man in the know!
MORE THAN JUST A BURDEN
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