Terry Quarmby
former IDE Past President

Legal Definition of Waste

In January this year, Defra published a consultation document titled ' Consultation on the legal definition of waste and its application'.  All those who have an interest in this matter and there are many, have until 12th April 2010 to respond.  However, as befits these types of documents they are extremely dificult to read and have a tendency to misdirect and confuse the reader by offering too much interpretation of a broad subject matter, too little actual advice on how we can influence decisions if at all and no facility for expressing a view on what is or is not classed as waste.

As a practicing demolition contractor I am obviously keen to ensure that any change to the definition of waste is made with a view to improving the opportunities for re-use and reclamation of secondary materials created by our site operations.  In April of this year, those opportunities are about to be marginalised by a reduction in the tonnages, ie aggregates etc, that can be produced and stored on site as well as the requirement to apply for environmental exemptions or permits for carrying out a job that we have traditionally reserved as being fundamental to our existance.  It is particularly galling to note that despite one department of the UK Government publishing Waste Strategy's and Innitiatives, others are bent on making it difficult and at times impossible to manage our processes in an efficient and commercially viable manner.

Upbeat or Over Optimistic

The last time I mentioned work opportunities it was bracketed with wrist slashing, falling turn over and profit eradication.  How different then that these few early months have seen a dramatic rise in turn over as well as contract value.  I can hardly bring myself to talk about it for fear of invoking some gremlin into the equasion and ruining what has been a welcome change from the grim period of 2009.  But, with an appearance of a rise in private spending, as apposed to public money, we must hope that it signals a sustainable recovery rather than a blip.  The telling time, or so we are being directed to believe, will be from May onwards when either a new government is in place or the old government prevails and everything carries on for better or for worse.