Warwickshire had a household waste growth rate of just 1% in 2002-03 and is now looking to continue to minimise the household waste it collects by targeting specific waste streams.
The Warwickshire Waste Forum, a group representing all councils in the county, relaunched its home compost promotion last week after a successful take up of cut-price Blackwall compost bins in 2003-04.
Last year, more than 6,900 home composters were sold in Warwickshire under the scheme, diverting about 1,360 tonnes of waste from landfill. This year, the county council plans to invest a further 50,000 in 10,000 subsidised composters to divert a further 2,000 tonnes of garden and kitchen waste.
Ken Browne, portfolio holder for transport, environment and rural affairs at the county council, said: “With the extra subsidy made by the county council this year, residents will be able to buy a composter at up to a third off last year's prices.”
He added: “The scheme is almost cost neutral for the county council, with up to 20% of household waste able to be composted, so the benefits are there for everyone involved.”
Nappies
Another waste stream being targeted by Warwickshire's Waste Forum is disposable nappies.
Using funding from SITA Environmental Trust via the Landfill Tax Credits Scheme, the county council is offering parents a 25 refund if they prove they have spent more than 50 on re-useable cotton nappies.
The Forum is also working with the Warwickshire Environmental Trust and other Midland councils to promote cotton nappies using a video.
The video project received 17,000 from Lafarge Aggregates via the LTCS and has produced a six-minute video to be distributed to health visitors, hospitals, ante and pre-natal classes and midwives to inform parents about using real nappies.
Glenn Fleet, waste minimisation group manager at Warwickshire county council, said: “We have seen very little promotional work by the Cotton Nappy industry, and many parents do not consider using reusable nappies it is hoped that this video will highlight some of the positive advantages of using them.”
Mr Fleet said that the council has set a target of 350 parents to use real nappies and the schemes have already generated a lot of interest from local parents with around 30 families already signed up.
For more information on the real nappy video, contact Glenn Fleet at glennfleet@warwickshire.gov.uk
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