19 April 2018

Frictionless trade in recyclable waste vital post-Brexit

The Dutch Waste Management Association DWMA, the voice of the Dutch resource and waste management industry, today released a joint statement with its UK's counterpart, the Environmental Services Association, underlining the importance of continued trade in waste for recycling and recovery between the UK and other European countries after the UK leaves the EU.

ESA Executive Director Jacob Hayler said:
'ESA sees Brexit as an opportunity for the UK to further develop its domestic treatment capacity for both recyclable and residual waste, and we hope that Defra's resources and waste strategy will contain concrete measures for making this a reality. But at the same time we should not lose sight of the fact that - for recyclable material in particular -  self-sufficiency is a long way off.
This means it is absolutely vital that when the UK leaves the EU trade in recyclable and recoverable waste should continue to be as frictionless as possible. We are therefore pleased to be making a joint statement with our Dutch colleagues on this important topic today.'

Jacob Hayler (ESA):

"We should not lose sight of the fact that – for recyclable material in particular – self-sufficiency is a long way off."

Dick Hoogendoorn, director of the DWMA said:
'The baseline for the circular economy to start and grow is stopping large scale landfilling across Europe. Our waste sector is willing to lend other member states a helping hand. Dutch waste companies can help with the treatment of waste for recycling and recovery from other European countries until they have developed sufficient capacity. Nations are becoming increasingly interdependent concerning the sound treatment of waste. This counts for almost all countries within Europe.'

Dick Hoogendoorn (DWMA):

"Dutch waste companies can help with the treatment of waste for recycling and recovery from other European countries."