The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has condemned Defra proposals that could require a third of the UK’s metal recyclers to apply for environmental permits, if they want to stay in business.
 
Waste and recycling minister, Jane Kennedy, revealed the potential impact of proposals contained in Defra and the Environment Agency’s review of exemptions when replying to a parliamentary question from Adrian Bailey MP, the Labour representative for West Bromwich West. The Minister indicated that over 600 sites would need to move to new permits, but declined to give an estimation of the costs to business.
 
Lindsay Millington, director general of the BMRA said: “We have repeatedly advised Defra and the Environment Agency that these exemption proposals will put an additional squeeze on small-scale recyclers who already have to cope with an unreasonable administrative burden imposed by legislation and regulation. We have still not seen any evidence of environmental risk to support the proposals. But Defra and the Agency continue to pursue an option that will increase operating costs, require new competence certificates and increase uncertainty by requiring new planning consents to be obtained. There is a real risk that these proposals will put valuable recyclers out of business and further hamper the UK’s ability to compete in the global metal recycling market. This is highly inappropriate, especially given today’s economic climate.”
 
“We urge Defra and the Environment Agency to abandon their proposals to end paragraph 45 exemptions. We have written to the minister to seek an urgent meeting with industry representatives,” she added.

 

Quelle: British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)

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