ESA responds to George Eustice appointment as SoS at Defra
Environmental Services Association
With the appointment of George Eustice, Defra is getting a leader with experience who has spent significant time with the department, and who should be able to hit the ground running, says ESA.
Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association, Jacob Hayler, said:
“It looks as though Defra will now get its third Secretary of State in as many years following the departure of Theresa Villiers after just six months but, with the appointment of George Eustice, it is getting a leader with experience who has spent significant time with the department, and who should be able to hit the ground running. Defra is in need of consistent and strong leadership at a critical time for the natural environment; to guide the Environment Bill through Parliament; and to get the Government’s vital Resources & Waste Strategy delivered.
"This reshuffle at Defra arrives on a day when the scale of soaring public costs associated with major illegal waste-dumping incidents across England have been revealed. It also comes in a year that the UK has failed to meet its 2020 recycling targets, and is in danger of getting left behind our European neighbours without a rapid step-change in recycling performance. We would urge the new Secretary of State to place boosting recycling, and clamping down on organised, large scale, waste crime among his top priorities. Waste crime costs the UK economy millions, damages the legitimate waste management sector and undermines investment in sustainable new waste management infrastructure.”
