News in Brief

The next instalment of the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund is expected to be announced soon.

The head of local authority support at DEFRA's Waste Implementation Programme, John Enright revealed that details of the 135 million fund will be announced in the week starting October 20, 2003.

DEFRA will produce guidance to accompany the fund at the same time. Mr Enright was speaking at the LARAC annual conference in Telford, Shropshire. Last month, he was appointed head of the WIP's Local Authority Support Unit, which is intended to help councils meet their Landfill Directive obligations.

Mr Enright praised local authorities for their efforts so far to recycle. “The WIP team believe there's some really good practice out in the country now,” he said. “This needs to be disseminated to other areas so they know what's going on and so we can share best practice.”

The Waste and Resources Action Programme has announced that it will give 500,000 to the Rethink Rubbish campaign.

The future of the popular waste education brand had been put in some doubt when the government decided in April 2003 to give WRAP the responsibility for waste awareness in the UK.

But in a speech to the LARAC conference yesterday, WRAP communications director Ray Georgeson said that Rethink Rubbish will link in closely with WRAP’s new waste awareness work.

“We are pleased to respond to the views of local authority stakeholders by providing this boost to Rethink Rubbish,” Mr Georgeson said. “It is vital in the coming months that momentum is not lost, and that careful evaluation is carried out to help us all learn the lessons about what works best in this campaign and how to move it forward.”

WRAP will release details soon concerning a national advertising campaign and a programme of funding for co-ordinated local and regional communications campaigns to improve recycling performance.

Warwickshire County Council has said it is well on the way to recycling 70% of household waste at its Burton Farm Recycling Centre in Stratford upon Avon.

Burton Farm Recycling Centre has increased its recycling rates from 35% to 65%

The council spent 500,000 to improve the site over the summer and maximise recycling at the site. A one-way traffic flow system has been incorporated to eliminate queuing and the facilities are on two levels so that steps are no longer needed to access the recycling containers.

The new design also provides an element of flexibility, which enables new recyclables to be bought on-stream when markets become available.

A concerted effort has been made to shift the focus of the site away from being a &#39d;ump' and in just three months the recycling rate has increased from 37% to 65%.

Site manager Sarah Elliott said: “We are delighted with the results achieved so far. The recycling shop is a definite asset and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the Shakespeare Hospice. We are well on our way to achieving 70% recycling and I would definitely recommend this way of working to other authorities.”