Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, has appointed three new non-executive members to the Environment Agency Board.
Through regular board meetings, committees and groups, non-executive Board members provide leadership challenge and support to the executive. They are also required to undertake individual roles on relevant issues and with local operational teams.
The new Board members are: Karen Burrows, Peter Ainsworth and Richard Leafe.
Karen Burrows joins the board with a legal and commercial background, having worked in a number of senior management positions for natural gas exporter, BG. Prior to her arrival at the company in 1985, she worked as a practicing lawyer.
Peter Ainsworth is the UK Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, and former Local Councillor and Member of Parliament. He is also an Environmental Consultant, and was one of the founding members of Robertsbridge Group.
Richard Leafe has served as the Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority since 2007, and previously held several senior positions at English Nature. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Reappointments to the Board include Emma Howard Boyd, John Varley and Jeremy Walker. Kirklees Councillor and Conservative Group Leader, Robert Light, has also been reappointed and will take up his post from 10 October.
More information can be found on the Environment Agency website.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.