The strategy was approved as councils across Dorset launched a summer campaign aimed at promoting the reduce, reuse and recycle message, with a focus on young people in particular.
Cllr Tim Munro, Weymouth and Portland borough council's brief holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “This is fantastic news – an opportunity for councils to work together to reduce waste and increase recycling.
“Our target of 60% of waste being recycled sounds ambitious, but the borough council is already nearly reaching that target when you include green waste householders take to the tip themselves, which we are allowed to include in those figures. We have exceptional processes and the new waste strategy will help us improve that even further.”
Dorset county council cabinet member for the environment Hilary Cox added: “Waste affects everyone so it is important that we have a joined-up approach to the way we deal with waste.”
Strategy
The strategy tackles issues such as reducing the amount of waste that is produced and making the best possible use of waste that cannot be recycled or composted.
Local people and organisations were invited to have their say about a draft strategy during an extensive consultation programme that ran from August to November 2008.
Christchurch borough council, Dorset county council, East Dorset district council, North Dorset district council, Purbeck district council, West Dorset district council and Weymouth & Portland borough council have all signed up to the strategy.
It replaces a version which was five years old and was influenced by the national waste strategy (2007) and the emergence of new technology, knowledge and information.
Campaign
Meanwhile, the summer campaign sees the county and district councils teaming up with Olympic medal-winning windsurfer Bryony Shaw to promote recycling.
The campaign features a promotional flyer and a series of posters encouraging residents to recycle more of their waste. Recycling officers will also be out-and-about in the local community advising young people on the best ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
In addition, the initiative publicises a selection of 'top tips', advising residents of what can be recycled, ways to reuse – such as buying refillable water bottles and giving unwanted items to charity shops -, and reducing waste by choosing products with less.
The campaign has been organised by the Dorset Reduction and Recycling Group – comprising all of the local authorities in Dorset.
Dorset Reduction and Recycling Group chairman Louise Bryant said: “At 48% Dorset has one of the very best recycling rates in the whole country but more can still be done to help reduce the amount that goes to be buried in the ground at landfill sites.
She added: “And that's good for the environment as it helps cut the build-up of methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Landfill sites are also becoming increasingly expensive for councils to use – and that has huge implications for the taxpayer in years to come.”
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