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23/06/2009

Gloves off for the kerbside debate

Entry from 'Thoughts from the Kerbside' - The Big Wheelie Bin Blog

A thoughtful and sometimes humourous look at the world of waste, brought to you by industry observers. We'd like to create a vibrant blogger community going forward, so if you'd like to become a regular blogger for LAWR, please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!

Although I have commented in the magazine about WRAP's statement which advocates source-segregated collections over co-mingled, I feel I must venture further thoughts on this topic for our online readers.

WRAP chose to announce this somewhat controversial 'conclusion' at the Futuresource show held at London ExCel a fortnight ago. It did so without any prior consultation with the major MRF operators and suppliers in our industry, which I feel was a mistake.

WRAP is quite within its rights to conclude what it likes on any topic, so long as the evidence is sound. And WRAP would say the evidence is sound - it's based on plenty of statistical data and research into the issue gathered over the past few years.

But the nature of the announcement itself, at such an important event, left many major movers and shakers in the industry fuming. I won't tell you what colourful comments were flying through the air, as much of it was of a confidential nature, but it certainly curled my ears!

The lack of diplomacy demonstrated on WRAP's part, to not even forewarn those it knew it would anger and offer them a right of reply, has not gone down well. Perhaps inevitably, some of the big waste contractors have now swiftly joined ranks and formed their own alliance, the MRF Operators Sector Group, to discredit the WRAP report, saying that it lacks credibility and that a number of factors within it are "materially incorrect".

This association, which includes Veolia, Viridor, Greenstar, SITA and Community Waste among its membership, is sure to swell and gain momentum over the coming weeks. For too long I feel this sector has remained silent while the likes of the Campaign for Real Recycling have cleverly hijacked the national media and grabbed a lot of the limelight.

The source-segregated versus co-mingled debate is one that has been raging for years. It remains a highly contentious issue. WRAP may be regretting jumping off the fence for this one.

Maxine Perella, editor of LAWR

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Comments

By John S Glover
WRAP did not visit Bywaters before delivering this report. WRAP have since visited and I understand an addendum to the previous report will be issued in September. Having seen our MRF I understand WRAP have had second thoughts. Bywaters' MRF has been independently assessed as number one MRF out of seven MRFs examined.

Is waste still a dirty word when it comes to public perception?

Yes, they don't see the potential value of it
Maybe, but attitudes are slowly changing
No, it has almost become sexy!

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