Members of the Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR) are being asked to vote on proposals to merge with the Renewable Energy Association (REA).

The result of the ballot will be announced at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), to be held on 4 September. Corporate members of the biodegradable waste management trade association will be asked to vote either in person or by proxy.

The AfOR was set up in 1994, with the aim of working on behalf of its members to raise awareness of the recycling of biodegradable resources and relaying their interests to policy makers.

The REA, meanwhile, represents professionals in the renewable energy industry. Having been in operation for the past 10 years, it consists of around 960 corporate members, and it is hoped that the merger will create a stronger and more influential presence in the industry - allowing greater pressure to be placed on government to work in the associations’ interests.

Addressing AfOR’s members, Managing Director Jeremy Jacobs, wrote: ‘At a time of uncertainty and increased regulation, it has never been more important for the biodegradable resource sector to have a strong, unified and influential trade association working on behalf of industry, ensuring that a sense of proportionality is maintained by the regulators and influence can be exerted within Government at the highest level. 

A criticism levelled at our sector in the past has been that there is too much fragmentation. This can at best confuse the listener and at worst dilute the strength of the message which is being conveyed. In order for a trade association to work effectively on behalf of its members, it must be unified if it is to convince government of the case for change.‘

The letter, entitled 'Time for change - Creating a stronger and more influential trade association' also outlines the role of REA’s subsidiary (Renewable Energy Assurance Limited - REAL) describing the company’s Green Gas Certification Schemes and Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS), which certifies anaerobic digestion (AD) plants against the PAS 110 industry standard, as a ‘balanced match’ for AfOR’s ‘technical skills’.

The letter also hints that a merger had previously been considered with the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), but that AfOR considered the REA ‘a better match’ on account of its wider remit.

More information on the proposed merger can be found on AfOR’s website.