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AfOR members vote to strengthen advocacy for organic wastes sector

Posted: 4 September, 2012. Written by REA News

AfOR members vote to strengthen advocacy for organic wastes sector

Renewable Energy Association
Press Release
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4th September 2012

REA integrates leading compost and biogas association

The attached photo shows Gaynor Hartnell and Jeremy Jacobs at the REA’s new offices.

You may download additional photos to illustrate this news story from the REA’s Facebook page (Please ensure all photos are attributed to the REA)

After a decisive vote by its members today, the Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR) [1] will integrate into the Renewable Energy Association (REA) [2]. The process of combining AfOR and the REA will be completed by the end of this year and will strengthen the REA’s position as the UK’s largest trade association representing the UK renewables industry. The REA’s membership in the UK will for the first time exceed 1,000 companies and individuals.

Today’s announcement will see AfOR’s Managing Director Jeremy Jacobs become the REA’s Technical Director. AfOR’s certification activities, covering compost and biodegradable packaging, will move to the REA’s wholly owned subsidiary Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL) [3]. AfOR staff and REAL have already been working together for two years on the Biofertiliser [4] and Green Gas [5] Certification Schemes. AfOR’s training programmes will continue as part of the REA’s programme of training courses for members and non-members.

In addition, AfOR’s technical enquiry service will continue as the REA Organics Recycling Group. This group will assist members with enquiries concerning quality standards for compost and digestate; the collection, treatment and use of biodegradable resources; permitting and planning; compostable packaging schemes; and any other subject relating to the treatment of biodegradable resources.

REA Chairman Martin Wright comments:

“I am absolutely delighted with this move, which will strengthen the REA’s position as the leading trade association representing the UK’s renewables industry.

“In particular, the scientific and technical expertise of the AfOR staff will greatly enhance the REA’s advocacy on behalf of the organic waste-to-energy sector. It also makes strategic sense to house all organics certification activity under one roof.”

The Association for Organics Recycling, set up in 1994 and numbering 300 members, is the leading trade organisation for the biodegradable waste management industry in the UK. Its members are active in composting, anaerobic and aerobic digestion, and the provision of fuels for biomass heat and power. Like the REA, the association is a not-for-profit organisation.

AfOR’s Managing Director and the REA’s new Technical Director Jeremy Jacobs comments:

“We chose to merge with the REA because many of our members are increasingly active in anaerobic digestion and the supply of renewable fuels. This move will therefore bring tangible benefits to existing members of both associations. In addition, our certification activity has natural synergies with the two existing biogas certification schemes run by the REA’s subsidiary company REAL.”

REA Chief Executive Gaynor Hartnell added:

“I’m determined that the UK makes more of its organic resources, for both energy production and enhancing soil quality. Waste management and renewable energy are entirely complementary, yet can so easily fall through the gap between different Government departments. The needs of the organics recycling sector will now form part of REA’s high level advocacy with Government. We will be pressing hard for a joined-up approach.”

The news has been welcomed by key stakeholders in the UK waste and energy landscape.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:

“It’s good to see the REA and AFOR being brought together under one roof, bringing AFOR’s expertise on anaerobic digestion and waste management to the table. I look forward to working with the expanded REA team on anaerobic digestion and other green issues going forward.”

Steve Lee, CEO of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, said:

“Waste is now part of the wider resource and renewable energy agenda and the industry needs strong trade associations to ensure that its full potential is realised. CIWM wishes AfOR and REA success in this merger and we look forward to maintaining a strong working partnership on biowaste and renewable energy issues.”

Dr Jeremy Tomkinson, CEO of bioeconomy consultants NNFCC, said:

“This merger should give the growing anaerobic digestion and composting industries a greater voice going into the future and help realise the Government’s ambitions to cut waste and promote sustainable energy. The REA and AfOR are two of the most respected names in the sector, by merging they are creating a ‘superbrand’ to boost green growth.”

ENDS

For further information or to request an interview, please contact:

REA Press Office: +44 (0)2079 810 856, or:

Name: Gaynor Hartnell
Title: Chief Executive, REA
Tel: +44 (0)7870 629 575

Name: Jeremy Jacobs
Title: Managing Director, AfOR & Technical Director, REA
Tel: +44 (0)7787 856 384

Notes to Editors

1. The Association for Organics Recycling was founded as The Composting Association in 1994. It changed its name in 2008 to reflect the diversification of its members. It owns and manages the compost quality standard PAS 100, and also manages on behalf of Din Certco the compostable packaging standard EN 13432. It will be closing its offices in Wellingborough and joining the REA at its new offices in Eccleston Place in Victoria.

For more information, see: www.organics-recycling.org.uk

2. The REA was founded as the Renewable Power Association in 2001. It has grown rapidly since then to become the UK’s largest renewables industry association uniquely covering all renewable energy applications; heat, power, transport and green gas/biomethane.

The REA has played a key role in shaping the UK’s major renewable energy support mechanisms, including: the Renewables Obligation, Zero Carbon Buildings Targets, the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, the Renewable Energy Strategy and Directive, and grant programmes and Feed-in Tariffs for on-site electricity.

The REA was also instrumental in securing the Renewable Heat Incentive, the world’s first incentive mechanism for renewable heat and gas, applications previously overlooked in the UK. It also set up the REAL Consumer Code to raise standards in the consumer-facing industry, and REAL has subsequently launched the Green Gas and Biofertiliser Certification Schemes, as well as developing and administering the Code of Practice for Green Deal providers.

For more information, see: www.r-e-a.net

3. The Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL) Consumer Code was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. Its aim is to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small-scale energy generation systems for their homes. The REAL logo is a sign that the company has agreed to abide by the high standards set out in its Consumer Code.

For more information, see: www.realassurance.org.uk

4. The Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS), part of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd, provides assurance to consumers, farmers, food producers and retailers that digestate produced from anaerobic digestion is safe for human, animal and plant health. Biofertiliser is the name adopted for the quality digestate that meets the PAS110 & ADQP or ASRS specification.

For more information, see: www.biofertiliser.org.uk

5. The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS), part of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd, tracks biomethane, or ‘green gas’, through the supply chain to provide certainty for those that buy it. The GGCS tracks each unit of green gas from its injection into the distribution grid, to any trades, to its sale to a consumer, or group of consumers. It tracks the contractual rather than physical flows to ensure there is no double-counting from production to end use.

For more information, see: www.greengas.org.uk