Local authorities, central government and landfill tax credit must fund extended efforts to keep the public informed about recycling said the study, Public Confidence in Waste Management. The report, commissioned by the National Resource and Waste Forum – formerly the Public Confidence Working Group – focused on the importance of waste management groups presenting a united, accessible and responsive front to the public.
Large numbers of people should be consulted on waste management strategies to get an “ongoing dialogue” flowing, said the report. “The dialogue between operational services and the public should be at a personal level,” such as face to face surveys and even training of refuse truck teams, as well as community focus groups, suggested the study.
It also praised the National Waste Awareness Initiative for publicity which gave a “simple, clear message on waste minimisation” and warned operational services to “treat seriously” people’s concerns about health, traffic and property values and be “honest” about the risks of their plans.
The study added that a policy shift was needed to ensure local authorities and the private sector worked in partnership over identifying the need for local facilities, while the ESA had a key role to play in making the operational services sector give off the image of an integrated body.
ESART is a member of the NRWF, which is an independent body set up earlier this year and endorsed by DEFRA and the DTI. It aims to promote public involvement in sustainable waste management and has members representing waste service providers, government, regulators, NGOs and Not For Profit Organisations.
Mike Brown, who chairs the forum, said it would represent: “all who are interested and involved in waste and resource management, including the general public.” Its role is to research attitudes and solutions to resource and waste management issues, promote best practice, establish consensus between its members on key strategies and raise public confidence.
A full copy of the report Public Confidence in Waste Management is available on the ESART website: www.esart.org or by post from Nick Blakey, ESART, 154 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR (tel: 020 7824 8882, email: blakey@esart.org)
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