LOCAL AUTHORITIES MISSING OUT ON UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF HIGH GRADE METALS
A new telephone survey conducted by British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association (BAMA) shows that just under half of all the local authorities in the England and Wales accept empty aerosols for recycling. About a quarter of authorities were considering aerosol recycling but the other quarter had no plans. The survey was to determine why authorities were not recycling and BAMA will offer advice to any authority on the safety aspects of aerosol recycling. enquiries@bama.co.uk
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE NEEDED TO MEET RECYCLING TARGETS
The majority of Welsh councils need 'a substantial improvement in performance' if they are to meet the Welsh Assembly Government's recycling and composting targets, says an independent report published 19 March by the Audit Commission in Wales. The report 'Waste Recycling in Wales: working together to meet targets' represents the Audit Commission in Wales' independent evaluation of measures taken by the 22 councils to meet the Assembly's targets. report and summary report released 18 March. Summary is two-page document and full report is 17 pages http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports
ASSEMBLY AND WLGA CONFIDENT THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ON COURSE TO MEET RECYCLING TARGETS
Most local authorities in Wales are on course to achieve the first of the Welsh Assembly Government's combined recycling and composting targets of 15% by 2003-04, Minister for Environment Sue Essex and Cllr Graham Court, deputy environment spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association, said today (Thursday 20 March). http://www.wales.gov.uk/news/index.htm
WASTE NEEDS TO BE HIGH ON POLITICAL AGENDA
Wales lags behind other European countries in dealing with the problems of production and disposal of waste. We send materials to landfill that could be reused or recycled, or disposed of in different ways, delegates at the Plaid Cymru/The Party of Wales Spring Conference at Llangollen were told on 15th March. If we do not address the issue, given the current growth rate of 3% per year, the amount of municipal waste we will have to deal with in Wales will have doubled by 2020" said Dr Helen Phillips, Director of Environment Agency Wales. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news
RESULTS OF FIRST CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY INDEX PUBLISHED
Business in the Community has released the results of its first annual Corporate Responsibility Index today. The Index has been developed to help improve performance by providing a systematic process to compare companies' management processes and performance with others in their sector. The Index allows companies to demonstrate to their stakeholders that business is taking the lead in promoting awareness and public reporting, thus increasing trust in business and transparency in business performance. www.2.bitc.org.uk/news/news_directory/indexresults2002.html
`CITY SOLUTIONS' ENCOURAGES DEBATE AND DISCUSSION ON NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR WASTE IN LONDON
City Solutions was a one-day event held on 17 March, hosted by the GLA. It was organised to implement the Mayors proposal to work with stakeholders to encourage the development of new and emerging technologies for waste in London. A report is currently being prepared by an independent consultant to review the day and respond to a number issues raised during the question and answer sessions. It is the intention that the completed report is put on the London Assembly web site. If anyone would like any further information on this, please contact Wayne Hubbard, Senior Policy Officer GLA, 0207 983 4787
COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK
UK compost awareness week is 27 April to 3 May 2003. The internationally agreed theme is How Does Your Garden Grow? Compost! www.compost.org.uk
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PARTIALLY APPROVES WRAP
The European Commission has granted partial approval to WRAP. The Commission took a positive decision with respect to the aid measures that are directed at small and medium sized enterprises, which are located in assisted areas. The report issued 19 March can be found on the Europa site under recent press releases and ticking box IP/03/406 http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start
WASTE PLAN HERALDS RADICAL CHANGES FOR TAYSIDE
Today (Tuesday 18 March 2003) sees the launch of Tayside's Area Waste Plan at the University of Dundee. The plan details how the problem of increasing amounts of waste will be tackled throughout the area and outlines how Tayside residents can move towards a culture of reduce, reuse, recycle. http://www.sepa.org.uk/news/releases/2003/pr035.html
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR HIGHLAND WASTE PRODUCERS
SEPA is warning businesses in the Inverness and inner Moray firth areas that they have only weeks left to decide what they will do with their rubbish once the Longman landfill closes. The site will stop taking waste on 31 March, leaving commercial and industrial waste producers a range of limited - and potentially expensive - options. http://www.sepa.org.uk/news/releases/2003/pr034.html
