Defra launches ‘Zero Waste Places Standard’

The standard was unveiled by environment secretary Hilary Benn yesterday (October 13) as part of a raft of 'zero waste' measures (see letsrecycle.com story) and as such has a focus on waste reduction.

Councils will be encouraged to apply for the standard to receive recognition of their success in areas such as recycling and waste reduction through a particular initiative, and it will also aim to motivate them to improve their performance further.

In a similar way to the original 'Zero Waste Places' initiative, which aims to showcase best practice in sustainable waste management, the standard can be awarded to anything from a street to an entire community.

The standard is being run by the Defra-funded BREW Centre for Local Authorities and, speaking to letsrecycle.com about the scheme, the centre's national co-ordinator, Helen Bird, explained: “It gives local authorities the idea of a greater standard to work towards than the recycling targets.”

“The accreditation will give recognition to those councils who are doing really well, as well as providing the accreditation it also motivates people to do more and get involved,” she added.

Accreditation

Local authorities looking for accreditation under the scheme will be expected to submit their applications to the BREW Centre, before they are passed to the University of Northampton for assessment before the final decision on whether they should receive the standard is made by the minister for waste and recycling, Dan Norris.

As well as receiving the Zero Waste Places Standard, successful applicants could also receive up to £3,000 in grant funding towards their efforts, though the BREW Centre has stressed that this is from a “limited” pot.

Ms Bird highlighted that the standard emphasised the need for local authorities to work together with businesses and, in particular, the third sector to reach their goals.

“It's really taking it to the next level and will hopefully encourage local authorities to start looking a lot more holistically at waste,” she explained.

Criteria

While there are criteria for local authority to follow as part of the application process, Ms Bird stressed that applications would be considered according to the focus of the initiative the council was looking to receive the accreditation for.

She cited the example of one of the first 'zero waste places' pathfinder projects, Peterborough city centre, which had focused on construction and demolition waste, and explained that, as a result, its work would be centred on meeting goals for C&D waste such as those set by the revised Waste Framework Directive.

Ms Bird revealed that BREW planned to hold an event next month for both the pathfinder zero waste places and also councils who might be interested in applying for the standard to find out more.

More details on the application process can be found here.

Zero waste places

As expected, yesterday also saw the announcement of the second set of showcase 'zero waste places', almost a year after the then-waste and recycling minister Jane Kennedy named the first set of six places to be chosen for the best practice initiative (see letsrecycle.com story).

The latest six places to be chosen under the initiative, which was a commitment within the Waste Strategy for England 2007, are:

• Bishops Castle in Shropshire – the project will focus on waste reduction, with measures including enhancing the town's community recycling facility and working with the farmers market to increase composting, with the overall aim of reducing waste to landfill by 6% over the next two years;
• Dorchester-on-Thames in Oxfordshire – the initiative will focus on waste reduction for materials which cannot be recycled by households, and will also look to work with schools and businesses to reduce residual waste;
• London borough of Hackney – a resident of the Follingham Court estate has set up a 'Carbon Club', working with the council to reduce both emissions and waste, and actions will include installing a community composting facility;
• London borough of Lambeth – the Brixton 'Low Carbon Zone' will be extended to include residents and businesses within the Coldharbour ward, including running waste audits and installing 'Recycle on the Go' facilities;
• London borough of Newham – supporting market traders and shops at Queens Market in their efforts to reduce waste, with the target of diverting 375 tonnes from landfill over a three month period;
• Suffolk county council – seven streets will look to reduce their collective waste by 50% and will be offered advice and guidance on how to minimise and recycling more waste.

Commenting on the choice of places, the environment secretary, Hilary Benn, said: “These six areas will provide innovative and often easy ways for people to get involved in cutting their waste. I look forward to seeing the projects, and how can all learn from them.”

C&I waste

The BREW Centre has also revealed that it will have a role leading on from the commercial and industrial (C&I) waste statement which was also published yesterday (see letsrecycle.com story).

With funding provided by Defra, the centre is calling for local authorities to apply for up to £30,000 in capital or revenue funding to support initiatives that look to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in their efforts to become more resource efficient.

Ms Bird commented: “The economic downturn has hit SMEs the hardest and resource-saving practices is a way that they can protect their bottom line. Local authorities are in a prime position to initiate this and will also reap benefits from doing so.

“As well as supporting the local economy, the business resource efficiency projects that the BREW Centre supporting between 2006 and 2009 will save the local authorities involved more than £3.5 million over the next five years,” she added.

Applications must be made for finances committed by March 31 2010, and can be made here.