News in Brief

The Welsh Assembly Government is seeking public views on a new environment strategy that includes key aims to improve recycling and waste management by 2025.

The “Our Environment – Our Future – Your Views” consultation closes on October 3, 2005, before a new Environment Strategy for Wales is published in early 2006.

Yesterday the Assembly minister for environment, Carwyn Jones, urged as many people as possible to give their views, saying: “There is mounting evidence that our actions are pushing natural systems beyond their ability to cope.”

The consultation sets aims to make “reduce, re-use, recycle” universally accepted and normal behaviour for government, business, industry and home life. It aims to arrest the growth in waste production and push business towards designing products to reduce waste and maximise the recovery of resources.

The new environment strategy consultation effectively provides an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the Waste Strategy for Wales – Wise about Waste, which was published in 2002.

A new furniture re-use store has been opened in Sittingbourne, Kent, providing re-used furniture at a low price for disadvantaged families.

The Neighbourhood Furniture Store was opened by Derek Wyatt MP

The Neighbourhood Furniture Store was opened by Derek Wyatt, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, and is run by Amicus Vision, an independent charity established and supported by Amicus Group.

The scheme offers a convenient and environmentally friendly way of disposing of unwanted furniture and electrical items, and provides training and volunteering opportunities for long-term unemployed people.

Tim Sweeney, Chair of Amicus Vision, said: “Imagine if you could not afford to buy basic, essential items of furniture, like a bed or fridge, to keep yourself and your family comfortable. I hope the Neighbourhood Furniture Store will help many families avoid living in poor conditions or getting into debt.”

The Neighbourhood Furniture Store has been set up, thanks to a 218,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Recycling and Economic Development Programme (CRED), match-funded by donations from other organisations, local companies and individual donors.

WRAP – the Waste & Resources Action Programme – has launched a series of humorous radio adverts voiced by comedian and actor Eddie Izzard to encourage householders to recycle.

Running alongside television and print media advertising for the national recycling campaign Recycle Now, the radio ads have been created by Team Saatchi. They have been designed for local authorities to use on regional radio stations in towns and cities across England to boost awareness and encourage more recycling.

The six 20-second and one 30-second commercials use Eddie Izzard's off-the-wall humour to encourage the key age range – 25 years plus – of independent radio listeners who have traditionally been slow to pick up on recycling messages.

Julie Parry, head of communications and PR at WRAP, said: “Following the success of the TV ads, the new radio commercials are designed to help local authorities deliver a strong call to action at grassroots level.”

A Nottinghamshire man has been sentenced to 100 hours community service for failing to get a license allowing him to dismantle end of life vehicles.

Pat Fennessey pleaded guilty to breaking the ELV Regulations at his site in Bolham Lane, Retford. Retford magistrates also ordered him to pay costs of 150.

Richard Hardy, Environment Agency officer, said after the case: “The ELV Regulations are designed to both limit the pollution threat posed by scrap yards and to encourage the recovery and recycling of materials found in scrap cars.”

“We have been proactive in informing such businesses of their obligations under the regulations. Any scrap yard or vehicle breaker who doesn't meet them is operating outside the law and we will not hesitate to take action when we find this occurring,” he added.