Major forces in the composting industry have put the Environment Agency under fire, accusing the group of have inconsistent attitudes in regards to the granting of exemption permits.
Mike Thompson of Eco Sustainable Solutions is one person who has been called upon to explain how his group achieved exemptions form the Environment Agency when similar applications had been rejection. On Thursday, Mike Orr, of TEG Group, demanded an explanation at the Composting Association’s Diversification and Site Solutions event in Kettering.
Mr. Thompson’s explanation was simple. : “We do not have a special relationship with the EA,” he said. “Anything we can do, you can do too.”
Mr. Orr said that he doubted the blame rested with Eco Sustainable Solutions, but felt rather that the EA had issues in the implementation of its rules.
He said: “I don’t think they give anyone preferential treatment but there is clearly different ways in which the regulations are interpreted from region to region. I think they have to train their officers and have clearer regulation. I don’t know if that’s the issue or of officers just aren’t trained enough.”
“It would make our lives easier if there was clear and consistent application. We all want to abide by the rules it needs to be consistent.”
Mr. Orr is not alone in feeling that the EA has an inconsistent approach to applications. One composter said the EA had failed to give permission to his facility to perform certain things, but other nearby facilities were granted permission, merely because their case had been presented different.
The acting chief executive of the Composting Association, Jeremy Jacobs, agreed. He said: “It is noted that there was different interpretation. It’s recognised in the industry that interpretation is inconsistently applied and it needs addressing.”
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