An “ambitious review” of regulation in the waste industry was announced yesterday by Business Secretary Sajid Javid. It is, government say, a first step to working with British businesses to axe the cost of unnecessary regulation and its poor implementation by a further £10 billion over the course of this parliament. The government is asking waste businesses to come forward and flag areas for change through this new Cutting Red Tape programme.
It is stated that the review will look at the impact of regulations across the industry, from production and processing to collection, disposal and treatment, and that it will be used to identify and remove barriers to advancing the sector while ensuring human health and the environment remain protected.
In the announcement, one example of where businesses in the waste sector have said regulation and the way it is implemented is a barrier to business given. That is, regulators could respond better to innovation, and thereby help the sector maximise opportunities to recycle or re-use material that could otherwise end up in landfill
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I am determined to take the brakes off British businesses and set them free from heavy-handed regulators. We want firms to tell us where red tape is holding them back and help us make Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business.”
The waste sector is one of five areas announced for review – which includes the energy sector. For energy industry views are being sought on potential areas for cutting red tape including complex licencing requirements, and burdens placed on new market entrants.
Businesses are invited to feed back their thoughts by posting comments on the Cutting Red Tape website, via Twitter @CutRedTapeUK #CutRedTape, by email: cuttingredtape@bis.gsi.gov.uk and in old fashioned writing to: The Cutting Red Tape team, The Better Regulation Executive, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.
