[[{"fid":"11396","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"height":583,"width":1036,"class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-left","data-delta":"1","format":"teaser","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"height":583,"width":1036,"class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-left","data-delta":"1","format":"teaser","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":583,"width":1036,"class":"media-element file-teaser media-wysiwyg-align-left","data-delta":"1"}}]]In true 2020 fashion, the annual joint LARAC/CIWM event was held online last month, and I co-chaired the event with Jenny Robinson, NW Centre councillor for CIWM. We had four excellent speakers – Robert Vaughan (DEFRA), Sarah Ottoway (Suez), Kinza Sutton (Plastipak) and Chris Mills (WRAP). Between them they gave an insightful view on the progress of the Resources and Waste Strategy and the effect on industry. If you missed it, you can go on this link to get a copy of the recording.
Robert Vaughan has also announced he is retiring from DEFRA this month. Robert has been instrumental in the consistency consultation work and everyone at LARAC wishes him all the very best for the future.
The latest on the consultations is that the DRS consultation may be launched earlier (possibly February 2021) than Consistency and EPR, both of which are due in March 2021. Therefore, we are starting to look at how we best support our members in this process. If you haven’t already, please do complete our members’ survey online here. It will only take a few minutes and the responses help shape how we best serve you.
This is my last LARAC Online piece for this year, and what a year it has been. As we rapidly approach the end of 2020, this is the time for reflecting on the year gone by and remembering what lessons we learned, challenges that were overcome and the highlights and low points.
The catalyst for change this year came out of the blue in the form of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. In the very first lockdown back in March, we saw HWRCs closed, waste collection services reduced, and meetings cancelled. We could only make “essential” journeys and suddenly toilet roll became the most sought-after product on the planet. But we adapted and changed – meetings moved online, as well as conferences, HWRCs reopened with restrictions, and waste collection services resumed. Social distancing is now a thing embedded in our everyday lives, along with face coverings and sanitiser.
I feel that going forward, post-pandemic, we will see online meetings continuing which in turn reduces travel needs, and hopefully our carbon footprint; continued home working and HWRC booking systems may well remain to help manage traffic flow at busy sites. We know that waste arising from households (refuse and recycling) has increased, but exactly to what extent may take some time to filter through from our data recording systems.
It was great to hear last week that we were the first country to start the mass rollout of a vaccine against Covid-19, aiming to inoculate tens of millions of people within months. The work that has been done to get this far so soon is a real success story for this year. But I also think that the work local authority officers have done this year in order to keep waste services running to a high standard is another success story and reflects the dedication, professionalism and knowledge of so many of you.
As this is my last LOL contribution of 2020, I’d just like to thank you for your continued support of LARAC. I wish you all the best of the coming season and I hope 2021 brings us all some normality, be it new or otherwise!
Stay safe.
