Waste not, want not
Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) chairman, Peter Stone, claims hard-pressed local authorities could save millions through more partnership working in delivering waste services.
In a major speech to the FutureSource conference in London, Stone outlined the latest challenges to the waste management sector and described fastchanging developments which the waste management industry – and WRAP – will need to respond to.
He said foremost among the challenges and opportunities was the new coalition government’s emphasis on “localism” and the major review of waste policy in England just announced by Secretary of State for the Environment, Caroline Spelman.
Stone said other challenges included tougher EU legislation, a move by all UK national governments towards zero waste - with ambitious recycling targets, and the possibility of global markets demanding higher quality in materials being exported.
Citing an example of how partnerships can deliver great financial benefits, Stone described how Hertfordshire local authorities had formed a consortium to increase revenue from the materials they collect, and are now expecting an additional £500,000 a year as a result.
Stone said by far the most pressing issue was the financial squeeze on budgets and funding. In a cash-strapped landscape where we are all being asked to do more with less, Stone said effective partnership working enables sharing of resources and economies of scale. “We at WRAP”, he said, “will put greater emphasis on working through partnerships, empowering change and triggering change.”
Stone said this would shape the way WRAP works. “Our model is to use our expertise and our sector knowledge to act as a catalyst for change and for new initiatives. He said many of these initiatives had already saved money for local authorities.
He added: “The success of the Courtauld Commitment has delivered an estimated 500,000 tonnes less packaging, resulting in local authorities avoiding £35 million in disposal and other costs. That’s a very significant figure.”
Stone continued: “We have demonstrated through trials that the best way of collecting food waste
is separately, at the kerbside. As a result, around 1.6m households are now receiving this service with more to come. These services will collectively divert around 140,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill, which represents avoided disposal costs of around £10m per year.”
WRAP’s research shows 90 per cent of people now understand the benefits of recycling, and yet the national recycling rate is still below 40 per cent.
Commenting on the gap, Stone said a called on local authorities to sign up to WRAP’s and the LGA’s Waste Collection Commitment designed to make it easier for people to reduce waste, recycle and make a difference through recycling. “More than 65 collection authorities have signed up,” said Stone, “that is an encouraging start. However, I see absolutely no reason why all authorities should not make this commitment. I invite you to do just that.”
“WRAP has developed a wealth of technical advice and knowledge based on real life experience, which is available to you in your role as partner,” Stone concluded.
WRAP is also keen to work with local authorities to win residents’ trust, helping them to recycle as much as possible, by having schemes that are well designed, well explained and well implemented.
In opposition, David Cameron’s Conservatives were keen supporters of incentivizing recycling through reward streams, so this could be a key growth area as the new Government beds in.
Furthermore, as the global economy recovers and market prices for recycled materials gradually improve, the impetus for authorities to offer efficient and worthwhile recycling schemes should likewise increase exponentially.
