New Radical Approach for Waste Technical Competence

It has today been announced that a new Scheme has been developed by the industry and approved by Government to meet the new and flexible operator competence requirements provided under the environmental permitting legislation since April 2008. The approved scheme meets the Government's desire for industry led competence schemes to be developed. The Scheme has been approved by Defra and the Welsh Assembly government.

The launch of the new Competence Management System (CMS) is a groundbreaking moment for the waste management industry and will provide the industry with a Scheme that is not only 'fit for purpose' but will also support and enhance operators' investments in training and development, management systems and innovation.

The CMS Scheme has been developed through collaboration between operators, the Sector Skills Council, Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) and the sector's trade association, the Environmental Services Association (ESA).
The CMS Scheme provides operators with a means of demonstrating technically competent management of permitted activities on the basis of both corporate competence and employees' individual competence. Individual competence remains a key component with each employee having the relevant technical competences required to carry out their role. The CMS will take into account vocational and academic qualifications as well as internal and external training.

The CMS allows operators to organise their employees more effectively and productively. Operators will define their competence requirements based on site operations and business requirements. The Scheme complements and can be embedded in established management systems, but for those operators without existing management systems it can be implemented as a stand-alone scheme. The scheme is suitable for all waste management activities which currently require a permit in England and Wales and could be applicable to all activities and the devolved nations.

Tim Balcon, Chief Executive at EU Skills comments:

"The CMS scheme gives waste management companies a choice when demonstrating competence. It is a radical change welcomed by the industry and I believe that the partnership approach that has been taken to develop this new scheme ensures that this scheme fits precisely with needs of the industry."

Dirk Hazell, Chief Executive at ESA comments:
"ESA welcomes today's announcement. Our Members have waited many years for a competence scheme that is more applicable to the modern waste management industry and which relies heavily on corporate governance and sophisticated environmental and safety management systems."

To view the scheme please click here

For any more information please contact Denise McGylnn, Waste Development Manager on; denise.mcglynn@euskills.co.uk or 07802 681891