It’s time to be positive. My last blog discussed how great it was to be at the LARAC Scotland conference and now we are a fortnight away from the LARAC Wales conference.
It is fantastic to be meeting our members again and gaining insight into what are your top concerns and worries so LARAC knows where to focus our support and energy.
Last week I attended the CIWM Northern Ireland conference and had the chance to speak to two LARAC member councils. It became clear that the lack of a regional representative for Northern Ireland has set us back somewhat. But being there gave me the opportunity to connect with DAERA and get on their radar for the forthcoming consultations on their new waste management strategy. Upon returning to LARAC Towers (our virtual home) we have committed to redouble our efforts for our Northern Ireland membership and move towards re-establishing a dedicated conference for our LARAC members there in the future.
The pin in my Balloon of Hope is of course the lack of response from Defra on the DRS and Consistency consultations. Every time I am somewhere with Defra, I hope for something but come away disappointed. At the Resources & Waste Strategy Unwrapped conference in early June, once it was clear there would be nothing forthcoming on these two topics, I asked Dozie Chukudebelu, Deputy Director from Defra “What will be different by 2027 with regard to business waste collections of EPR, given that the reason it has been deferred is due to a lack of data from the business sector and the fact they cannot agree on a solution, plus you now have their trade associations claiming they saved them from EPR?” Poor chap, all he could do was stick to the party line and say he can only say what he is cleared to say. It must be awful being the centre of attention with so much expectation and you go there knowing you are going to disappoint everyone. Let us hope we have something to talk about by October in Birmingham.
This week I will be at the Carpet Recycling UK Annual Conference in Solihull. When I managed service operations, finding genuine recycling solutions for carpets (and mattresses) was always a problem. Too many times somebody’s recycling solution was just shredding them down for RDF. There aren’t any presentations from local authorities, just trade associations and companies, so I see this as an opportunity to get local authority issues out there and a dialogue started to present next year.
Next week I’m at the National Civic Amenity Site/HWRC Conference at the National Motorcycle Museum (also Solihull) and presenting on DIY charges and booking systems. Your responses to our recent member survey on these issues will provide fantastic content for my presentation. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to respond and provide your comments.
So, whilst we look forward to the summer holidays and hopefully you will be able to take the break you have planned, just remember that once we return to our desks, virtual or real, there is the conference of conferences, the LARAC Conference and Celebration Awards, 5th to 6th October at the Hilton Metropole NEC, to look forwards to. The best of luck to our scholarship and award applicants – I hope to see you on the stage accepting an award for your amazing efforts and dedication to our profession.
The future is bright – the future is LARAC
