There are often well-organised and articulate interest groups opposing residual waste treatment projects, even after the Contract has been signed. Such groups often attempt to influence other stakeholders by circulating information about the project which is designed to undermine support for or create new opposition to the project. To counter the impact of such groups the Authority should ensure that comprehensive, impartial and clearly articulated information about the project and the chosen technology is easily available to all the stakeholders in the project. Well-planned and managed stakeholder communications are critical to ensuring the planning process is successful, and good public relations are maintained throughout the construction and operational period of the Contract.
The first step is for the procuring authority to identify the stakeholders in relation to its project, and its engagement strategy will need to be tailored carefully to address the concerns of these groups. Waste PFI/PPP projects are likely to have a large range of stakeholders both inside and outside the Authority's organisation. All projects should have identified a range of stakeholders during the procurement period. A typical stakeholder list comprising the key stakeholder groups is shown below in the table below. The nature of stakeholder consultation and diversity of stakeholders will vary from project to project.
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Stakeholder Groups |
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Elected members MPs MEPs Environmental Groups e.g. Friends of The Earth, Greenpeace Residents/Resident Action Groups (wards surrounding site/facility) Local Businesses Environment Agency Authority Employees Public Health Authority Central Government Departments e.g. Defra, DECC and HM Treasury Local Partnerships Partner Waste Disposal Authorities District Councils in their role as Waste Collection Authority Media Supply Chain e.g. sub-contractors |
As indicated in the table, stakeholders will include users of the service - which may include the WCAs delivering the Contract Waste to the residual waste contractor or members of the public having their household waste collected in the context of an integrated service.