Support for metal

Contrary to popular belief, metals recycling has not escaped the economic crash. In the summer no-one anticipated the dramatic fall in prices, the disappearing markets, the roller-coaster changes in stock levels or the problems with consumer contracts that have been seen in recent months. The industry may be well accustomed to volatile trade but it has never before experienced change of these proportions and rapidity.

Lindsay Millington is Director General of the British Metals Recycling Association, the trade association for ferrous and non ferrous metal recycling companies. She represents the industry on a number of UK and European bodies, including Defra's waste strategy stakeholder group and the BERR end-of-life vehicle consultation group. Ms Millington is leaving the BMRA at the end of March.

But, despite the downturn, everyone knows that metal has long term value and that metal recycling is a resilient industry. Whilst a depressed construction sector, or fewer people changing their cars, may cause fluctuation in supply, we can be confident that even in a recession there will still be high volumes of discarded metal. Moreover, there will be international demand for recovered metals as long as there are industrialised and industrialising nations. So metal recycling is set to remain the country's – indeed the world's – most successful recycling industry. In a good year this can mean up to 15 million tonnes of metal being recovered in the UK and a significant contribution to UK balance of trade.

More active government support could help the metals recycling industry achieve even more as markets pick up; a situation optimistic industry analysts predict for mid to late 2009. Over the past two years, BMRA has responded to over 40 government consultations on changes to regulation. But there seems little government appetite to consider strategic issues such as barriers to trade and investment in infrastructure growth.

It would appear that the unique contribution metals recycling makes to the UK economy, the environment and European targets is being taken for granted. The industry has certainly had little or no benefit from BREW funding or WRAP projects.

A few changes would serve to acknowledge the value of metal recycling to UK plc – starting with an industry-focused strategy for metal recycling. This single change alone could make for a less bumpy ride and keep Britain at the forefront of metal recycling. Economically and environmentally, it's not a lot to ask.