A renewable energy association is encouraged by reports that the government may relax immigration rules for HGV drivers, but says a few thousand visas would fall too short of what is needed.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has called for HGV drivers to be recognised as an important shortage occupation to make up for the 100,000 estimated shortfall across the country.

Food and garden waste collection frequency has been reduced or suspended entirely in some local authorities due to driver shortage.

The Department for Transport has already announced some measures intended to alleviate the crisis, including allowing drivers to take one test to drive both an articulated and rigid lorry to increase the availability of test slots, and temporarily relaxing drivers’ hours rules.

Watford Observer: A shortage of HGVs is causing problems in multiple areasA shortage of HGVs is causing problems in multiple areas

Despite this, the REA’s members are still reporting difficulty in accessing tests until early next year.

There is also concern that the waste and recycling sector would be unable to compete with the higher wages on offer in other sectors.

It is feared that the issues regarding food and garden waste collections could continue, and potentially spread to general waste.

Jenny Grant, head of Organics and Natural Capital at REA said: “The relaxation of immigration rules for HGV drivers to help ease the widespread recruitment shortages for drivers in the waste and recycling sector would be a step in the right direction, and the REA first called for changes when concerns were raised earlier in the summer.

Watford Observer:

“It is vital that the whole economy, from waste collections to supply chains, are able to deliver services as normal.

“The Government must heed our calls for a two-year derogation to the points-based immigration rules for trained HGV drivers or we will only see these problems grow.”