Last month was filled with POPs - not daddies (grand or otherwise) or sweeties but persistent organic chemicals: POPs.
A second letter was sent out from the Environment Agency (EA) in November to clarify their earlier letter sent at the start of September. This clarified that the 31st December 2022 date was for those local authorities who are (or will be compliant by that date) with the EA’s guidance to confirm this in writing to the EA. The EA will then work with those who did not respond to confirm their compliance, to support them towards becoming so.
We held one of our member webinars on this subject on 22nd November and we had huge interest from the LARAC membership. Myself, the ESA and the EA all presented the issues from our various perspectives, and these were followed by a fully engaging Q&A session. In fact, we recorded 92 questions which we are still working through to produce a FAQ for you. We now have a new acronym in WUDS: waste upholstered domestic seating; which is the household waste stream where LARAC members will encounter POPs, either as bulky item collections, fly tip clearances or received at HWRCs.
It remains the situation though that many LARAC members will not be compliant by 31st December 2022 and are anxious to understand how they can change their operations to minimise costs and maintain services for their residents. The requirements for separation will affect bulky household item collections and their unloading in transfer stations, WUDS brought by the public to HWRCs, and clearing fly tips. LARAC will continue working with the Resolver Group to find solutions that are practicable for our members. Keep an eye out for LARAC Online and our emails as this is an ever-moving feast which changes quickly.
This will be my last blog for LARAC as I am leaving to take up a new challenge. I have enjoyed eight fantastic years with LARAC, either as an LA officer on the Executive, or as a member of staff. I have met many wonderful people. I would like to thank Cathy, Carole and Andrew as the Chairs I worked with, and the whole Executive during that time, for their support, advice, and help. A big thank you too to all the LARAC members I have met over the years. You are all amazing people who are so passionate and proud of the services you provide and the councils you work for. And then there is Carole and Mariana, the other LARAC staff, who do a phenomenal amount of work “behind the scenes” or should that be, at the end of your emails. Thank you to you both as well for your support and advice. Having worked with all these fantastic people I know that LARAC is guaranteed a successful future. I wish you all prosperity and longevity.
