Big Green Society report launched
The report suggests that local authorities should use a nudge approach to encourage residents to contribute to recycling and minimise waste in their area. It also suggests that local authorities help residents to contribute to services, whilst continuing to deliver their core responsibilities.
Councillor Ed Argar from Westminster city council said: We all can, and all must, play a part in building a more collaborative and responsible approach between councils, businesses, communities and individuals.
Protocols aim to boost electronics reuse
A set of protocols have been launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to help organisations prepare used electrical equipment for reuse.
The protocols (www.wrap.org.uk/reuseprotocols) are designed to support the PAS141 standard, which specifies the requirements for managing the process of preparing used electrical equipment for reuse (see letsrecycle.com story). The protocols point reuse bodies to the minimum tests and procedures that should be carried out in order to meet the PAS141 standard. They cover the reuse of a range of consumer items including digital cameras, computer equipment, fridges, freezers, mobile phones, televisions and vacuum cleaners.
WRAP project manager Lucy Keal, said: They are primarily aimed at local authorities and charities looking to extend the life of these items, but will also be used for Authorised Treatment Facilities. Many organisations promoting reuse will already have their own standards in place, but we hope these protocols provide a useful framework and will help others to start promoting the concept.
EU aims to cut food waste by 2025
Urgent measures are needed to halve food waste across the EU by 2025 and improve access to food for needy EU citizens, according to an EU committee.
A resolution drafted by Italian MEP Salvatore Carrona and approved by the Committee on Agricultural and Rural Development on November 24 called for measures to be taken across the EU to improve the efficiency of food supply and marketing.
The proposals include measures to prevent food being offered by retailers too close to its expiry date and clear labelling on food packaging showing when food can be sold and consumed, as well as steps to inform the public about how to avoid excessive food waste. To promote these initiatives, ministers have called for 2013 to be designated the European year against food waste.
After voting on the resolution ended 38-to-1 in favour, Mr Caronna said: The issue has been neglected for far too long now and this report sends a strong signal that the EU needs to take action now.
The findings will now be heard in a plenary session scheduled for the next Strasbourg session later this month (December 12-15).
Step forward for Manchester waste plan
A Joint Waste Development Plan for Greater Manchester has been formally approved by the Planning Inspectorate.
The plan, put forward by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), outlines potential locations for a number of future waste management facilities and will be adopted by the ten Greater Manchester authorities from April 2012. Seven sites have already been allocated for the creation of new waste management facilities, with a further 26 suitable sites set out in the plan.
Councillor Derek Antrobus, chair of the AGMA Joint Waste Planning Committee, said: We believe we have put forward a plan that assumes we minimise the amount of waste produced, maximise recycling and deal with what cannot be recycled in the most sustainable way.
West Midlands waste facility takes shape
Construction group Interserve is set to complete a 2 million waste recycling facility in Aldridge, Staffordshire, later this month (December 2011).
Once fully operational, the facility will be able to process around 250,000 tonnes of waste per year and will recycle up to 95% of the material that passes through its doors. The site will be managed be Interserve Site Services, the companys waste management arm, and will process construction waste and waste from councils and businesses in the local area.
One group set to benefit from the new facilities is Walsall Housing Group. Head of housing services Gary Brookes said: As an organisation which places a lot of importance on the environment, we know that the careful handling of waste is crucial. This facility will do much to assist us in the challenge of meeting our landfill reduction targets, and it will be good to see it in operation next year.
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