ACP advises local authorities on procurement

Via @APSRG I see that the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) has published its latest annual report.

While most of this is fairly technical stuff on how to link collections with supply chains and maximise recovery of packaging (particularly of plastics), one of the key recommendations (recommendation 2) advises local authorities to be given a statutory role as a supplier of materials to markets and also for them to participate in the contract framework for collection services developed by iESE.

I can't help thinking that by making this recommendation, the ACP is stepping outside of its remit.

On the first point, there is already a financial/business imperative for recycling to be completed in the most efficient manner so as to maximise revenues from recyclate sales and minimise landfill costs of rejected material.

On the second point, there has been a certain deal of controversy relating to the proposed iESE framework (see e.g. here or here), with some private contractors arguing that the framework will not deliver the promised cost savings, but will instead constrain innovation and end up being more expensive for participating authorities.

I personally can't see that the ACP has any role in advising local authorities on the most appropriate procurement methods for their collection services.