Smart interventions at the production, consumption and disposal stage are essential to drive a more circular approach says CIWM

26 August 2015

Responding to the European Commission's public Circular Economy consultation, CIWM has emphasised the importance of creating smart, synergistic mechanisms to drive progress at both ends of the supply chain.

"We need 'push' mechanisms at the end-of-pipe, such as smarter targets and landfill restrictions, coupled with stronger 'pull' mechanisms to encourage change at the beginning of the product cycle through more circular product design, standards, procurement and consumption models," explains CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. "While the former is important to encourage behaviour change with regard to waste on a wide societal scale, the latter is important to create the value proposition that will encourage and underpin the economic case for new business models and deliver investment in the necessary infrastructure."

In its response, CIWM identified the review of existing Producer Responsibility legislation and the further roll out of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approaches as one of the key priorities for the Commission.

"Producer Responsibility and EPR should better reflect the requirements of the Polluter Pays Principle as set out in EU Waste Framework Directive and could be a more effective vehicle to promote greater product stewardship, incentivise more sustainable design, and ensure that funding support for recycling is appropriately channelled," says Mr Lee.

"Waste is ultimately a market failure, with the burden of managing and paying for this failure currently sitting largely with consumers and local authorities. While this approach has brought us a certain distance on the path towards more sustainable practices, it is not fit for purpose to deliver the Circular Economy aspirations now being formulated."

Other priorities cited by CIWM include a strong signal from the Commission on food waste, with an aspirational target similar to that proposed in the original CE package and a requirement on Member States to develop national food waste strategies. The Institution also wants to see a more consistent and rigorous approach to monitoring, reporting and comparison between Member States and smarter data capture to support future policy development. It has also warned that the role of legislation and regulation should not dismissed as a result of the current 'deregulatory' agenda at both the EU and UK level.

"This is an important opportunity to establish a new framework for resource efficient production and consumption models that will help European Member States to be more competitive, resilient and sustainable in the future, both in environmental and economic terms," Mr Lee adds. "The Commission must keep its promise to deliver a more ambitious package and, from a UK perspective, Whitehall in particular must step up to the table. Scotland and Wales are already demonstrating their commitment to better resource stewardship and it is high time that England stopped spectating from the sidelines."

The CIWM Position Paper submitted in response to the Commission's public Circular Economy consultation can be found here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is the leading professional body for the waste management sector representing over 6000 individuals in the UK and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non profit-making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues. Comprehensive information about CIWM can be found at www.ciwm.co.uk

Press contact:
Pat Jennings
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E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk