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UK: David Palmer-Jones, chief executive of Suez recycling and recovery, has warned that if the UK left the European Union (EU) it would be bad for the country’s waste and recycling sector.

“Leaving the EU would be detrimental to the environmental services sector because the EU is the driving force behind much of the environmental policy and legislation which enables companies like Suez to invest in new services and infrastructure,” said Palmer-Jones. “Should the UK referendum be decided in favour of a Brexit and the UK leave the EU, there is a clear risk that the current EU-led policy drives towards creating a circular economy within the UK will stall or even move back a step, which in turn could have a negative impact on future investment decisions into UK infrastructure.” He added that a UK exit from the EU would cause infrastructure investment in the waste and recycling sector to be re-evaluated.

An inquiry by the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) on environmental policy in the EU and its effects in the UK was published on 19 April 2016. It looked at what the implications might be for the UK if it left the EU. It found that the ‘overwhelming view’ of witnesses across the sector was that EU membership has been positive for the UK environment. However, one member of the committee, Tory MP Peter Lilley accused the environmental groups who gave evidence of having vested interests because they received EU funding, according to the Press Association.