waste: the journey from liability to profit
This time last year, our Conference suggested that Waste law was in such a muddled state that investment in affected sectors in the waste industry had never been more unclear, or fraught with liability risk. However, since then there have been two developments of major significance to the industrial markets, and most especially in the context of transforming waste from a liability to a commercial asset. These two developments are:-
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The legal victory which Semple Fraser won (in June this year) for the OSS Group against the Environment Agency and the UK Government in the Court of Appeal which has turned the UK legal position on its head.
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The new EU Waste Directive which has taken shape and is imminent.
These two developments improve the legal foundations for industrial business, yet doubt and uncertainty continue to plague industrial operators and investors. Why so, and what are the answers?
Creating this uncertainty is a lack of clear understanding of what the Court of Appeal has actually ruled and what its impacts are. The same goes for the evolving new Waste Directive. Another factor is the lack of meaningful guidance from the regulators.
Although the OSS ruling and the proposed new Directive are “industry-positive”, this does NOT mean that the law is necessarily any clearer to those on the ground! It remains a minefield. The key for those operating and investing across the very wide range of “waste to energy / waste to product” sectors (including end users), is to ensure they know precisely where their operation stands, and how to cross that minefield.
The legal developments remain difficult to interpret and apply. It is crucial that the correct assumptions and conclusions are made in every case. Transforming wastes from liability to commercial profit remains a challenge requiring sure-footed guidance. In most cases this will be well worth aiming for.
The Conference Programme describes the key areas which our specialist EU/UK waste lawyers will focus on. We are also pleased to welcome a well known face to address the conference and give an operator’s perspective – Graeme McDonald, Operations and Development Director at William Tracey Ltd.
PROGRAMME
10.00 Registration & Coffee
10.30 Chairman’s Introduction
Alister Fraser, Managing Partner, Semple Fraser
10.40 “UK law has been turned on its head” – how come?
Vincent Brown, Partner & Head of Waste, Environment & Pollution, Semple Fraser
11.00 Transformation of waste into commercial fuel product
Barry Love, Partner, Waste, Environment & Pollution, Semple Fraser
11.20 Coffee Break
11.35 "Waste to product" - construction, demolition and soil wastes
Josephine Armstrong, Solicitor, Waste, Environment & Pollution, Semple Fraser
11.55 An operator’s perspective
Graeme McDonald, Operations & Development Director, William Tracey Ltd
12.15 Chairman’s close
12.20 Questions & Discussion
12.45 Lunch & Networking
This conference is one of a series that offers practical guidance and solutions to those issues affecting those involved in the waste industry. The conference will also present you with an opportunity to network with peers in your industry and share best practice.