Twenty-four teams are taking part in the waste and recycling sector's mixed-gender, six-aside football tournament at the University of Northampton on Friday, September 10, 2004.
 The Official Draw of the Waste World Cup 2004 took place in London late last week |
Organisers drew the teams at random at a prestigious ceremony held in London late last week. The 24 teams are playing in six groups of four teams during the initial group stage, before the group winners and two best runners-up go through to the knock-out stages.
Commenting on the Official Draw, organiser Dr Margaret Bates said: “Teams were selected into six groups of four by a process both rigorous and fair. The Draw has produced some interesting groups and has set up some potentially legendary games of football.”
For all the details of the 2004 Waste World Cup, see the official WWC 2004 website
Closing the event, WWC President Dr Margaret Bates thanked all those involved and wished every participating team good luck as they set out on the road to Northampton ‘04. The leading figures then gathered onstage one last time to round off the evening with a stirring rendition of the football classic “You'll never walk alone”.
The Official Draw has set up a number of interesting clashes, including a re-staging of last year's classic letsrecycle.com versus Resource match. The Environment Services Association takes on the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, and Biffa Waste Services takes on three community sector organisations in its group.
Group A
Two local authorities – Lincoln city council and Leicestershire county council were drawn in group A, and while University College Northampton will enjoy home advantage the early group favourites have to be the Environment Agency, who reached the final of WWC 2003.
Group B
Consultants Robert Long have been drawn in Group B along with recyclers Severnside and Materials Recycling Week. The government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs make up the final team of the group, but rumours persist of organisational difficulties at Defra.
Group C
Group C has set up a potentially interesting clash between the leading trade associations of the waste management industry, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and the Environmental Services Association. Outsourced waste and recycling services specialist Wastelink could profit from their group rivals' gruelling fixture, as could the Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group.
Group D
LARAC brings with it expertise in local authority recycling, but will they bring footballing expertise to Group D? The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors could find faults in the structure of the other teams in this group, but the experts see a re-match of last year's gripping media clash between letsrecycle.com and Resource magazine as the mouthwatering encounter to watch.
Group E
Biffa Waste Services was first out of the hat for Group E, and looks set to represent the private sector against two well-known community sector teams in the form of Save Waste & Prosper and Waste Watch. Meanwhile, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts are deploying their Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) programme in group E – but will they put their money where their mouth is?
Group F
The final group looks like a reunion of last year's tournament, with three old hands in the form of Leeds University, the Building Research Establishment and the Minerals Industry Research Organisation up against each other. But changes in their teams could hit their experience, and experts predict the vast player pool of the Waste and Resources Action Programme could well make them favourites to top this group.
For more information on the teams playing in this year's Waste World Cup 2004, and the tournament itself, see the Official Waste World Cup website.
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