MVDA WISHES ALL ITS MEMBERS, FREINDS & COLLEAGUES A VERY HAPPY CHRISTAMAS - SEE YOU ALL IN 2016!

METAL DEALER LEGISLATION - UPDATE FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

The Scottish Government has today advised us that they are “continuing to work on the commencement and implementation of the changes to the Scottish metal dealers regime. Unfortunately it has not been possible to lay a commencement order before Christmas, but it is hoped to be done early in 2016. This will have a knock on impact with the other likely dates for the regime coming into effect, but we would expect to have more clarity on these in early 2016.”

EA TO GET £20 MILLION TO TACKLE WASTE CRIME

Some potential good news for members!

Over the next 5 years the Environment Agency will receive an extra £20 million, from Landfill Tax revenues, to escalate the fight against illegal waste operators.  This is in response to strong criticism from the waste industry, including MVDA, that the EA isn’t adequately funded to fight illegal waste crime.

MVDA has played a key role in this, highlighting the scale of illegal car dismantling & the undermining effects this has upon legitimate business.

Most recently MVDA submitted detailed evidence to DEFRAs review of waste ‘exemptions, about how the U16 ELV exemption is being widely abused.

MVDA is due to complete its review of all 475 U16 exempt operators by Christmas, but preliminary results suggest that a very large proportion of U16 exempt operators are actually illegal vehicle dismantlers.

MVDA members will be updated in January when MVDA has submitted the full report to DEFRA.

 

Watch this space!

IAN HETHERINGTON TO STEP DOWN AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE BRITISH METAL RECYCLING ASSOCIATION (BMRA)

LetsRecycle is reporting that Ian Hetherington is stepping down as DG of BMRA.  Ian has been DG since 2009, & will continue to advise the BMRA on European issues before retiring in September 2016.

During his interview with LetsRecycle Mr Hetherington said that metal theft, & the resulting Operation Tornado & ultimately the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, had taken up a very significant proportion of his time.  He said that in his opinion the blame apportioned to the scrap metal industry for its role in perpetuating metal theft was “wholly wrong and unjust” – a view regarded by many with some scepticism.  He further expressed his concern that the police (& local authorities) have failed to follow up & enforce the Act, resulting in a significant number of operators ignoring the law (& still paying cash) – a view shared by many!

In the run-up to retiring, Mr Hetherington will represent the BMRA on the board of the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC), looking at the impact on the metals recycling sector of new EU legislation delivered through the circular economy package.

The role of DG at BMRA will be taken over by Robert Fell, who already has 30 years’ experience in the metals recycling sector, most recently as a senior research & development manager for packaging specialist Ardagh Group.  He also serves as director of the British Aerosols Manufacturers Association & acting chairman of the Metal Packaging Manufacturing Association.

Alongside the new DG, the BMRA Board has promoted Howard Bluck, the BMRA’s current head of environment to Technical Director.