Cornwall explores cost of landfilling waste
A ‘Waste compositional analysis' survey – carried out by the county's Waste Awareness team – found that 22,000 tonnes of cooked meat and fish and 21,000 tonnes of raw fruit and vegetables ended up in landfill in the last year and said that residents were still sending other recyclable material, such as textiles, to landfill. The Waste Awareness team has published a book entitled ‘Eat Well, Waste Less' to encourage residents to reuse leftover food and offer tips on ways of dealing with other material streams.
Adam Paynter, executive member for environment at Cornwall county council, said: “We have come a long way in the past few years but I was genuinely shocked to find out how much recyclable waste is still going to landfill. The £6.4 million spent on collecting and disposing of cooked meat and raw fruit and vegetables alone is enough to pay for a brand new secondary school.”
Pontypridd becomes plastic bag free town
In partnership with the Pontypridd Women's Institute and environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth, the council has launched a campaign to make Pontypridd plastic-bag free and held a special awareness day at the start of December in the town centre, which was launched by Assembly Member for Pontypridd and Welsh Minister for Environment, Jane Davidson. Shopkeepers and market traders supported the drive by not giving out plastic bags to shoppers and retail giants Marks and Spencer, Tesco, the Co-Operative and Somerfield also backed the campaign by donating a total of 2,000 ‘bags for life' to replace plastic carriers.
Councillor Anthony Christopher, deputy leader and cabinet member for frontline services, said: “This is a very exciting initiative and with so much support from partner agencies we will not only make Pontypridd plastic-bag free but eventually the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taf. There was a huge amount of enthusiasm for the scheme in Pontypridd and the feedback we've received from shoppers and traders alike has been excellent.”
Lancashire councillor receives MBE
Councillor Bernard Whittle was recognised for services to local government, and his fellow councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for resources and performance, said: “I am delighted that Bernard Whittle has been recognised in this way for his tireless support for the groundbreaking work being done on waste and recycling in Lancashire. People get involved with local politics to make a difference to their communities rather than for the recognition. But it is always nice when people who give so much time and effort receive formal recognition.”
His sentiments were echoed by former WRAP director of policy, Ray Georgeson, who said: “His work in Lancashire in helping to make the challenge of dealing with waste a genuine cross-party issue has had lasting benefit, and the role he played in helping to develop the National Waste Awareness Initiative some years ago has had a similar lasting benefit, leading as it ultimately did to the development of the Recycle Now campaign.”
Sandwell claim “good start” for recycling trials
Sandwell metropolitan borough council has reported that a trial to allow residents to recycle plastics and food drinks cartons has got off to a flying start.
The trial was launched for 7,200 residents in the area of Great Barr in August, and increases the materials that the council collects for recycling from paper, glass and cans to include plastic bottles, trays and other food container items, cardboard and drinks cartons. A second trial was launched for 7,000 households in the Smethwick area in December, with both trials intended to help Sandwell increase its recycling rate to over 30% by 2010.
Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said: “In the first trial area there has been an impressive increase in recycling tonnages and a decrease in the overall waste generated and thus the amount of rubbish being sent to landfill. I am looking forward to finding out if the same reductions have been achieved in the second trial area.”
Poole claims dual bins increase recycling
The local authority has invested £257,000 in the split bins – which had been initially installed in September – but were waiting on the arrival of a vehicle designed specifically to service bins in areas such as Poole High Street before they came into effect. However, since the scheme became fully operational, the council claims to have seen almost one third of litter placed in the bin going to be recycled which it claims is helping to achieve its overall goal of a 40% recycling rate. The dual bins allow people to recycle paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass and cans in the blue section, while other litter and bagged dog waste can be deposited in the black section. The bins also feature a stub plate for cigarette butts.
Cllr Don Collier, cabinet portfolio holder for environment, said: “The public response to the new bins has been brilliant. The bins have proven to be a real success, reaching recycling rates from 37% to 45%. It is clear that residents have taken their knowledge from the home waste scheme and applied it to the streets with ease. Following their success we will now be looking at ways of introducing even more bins around the borough.”
Register for free to comment