Welcome to the July round-up of news from European Pathway to Zero Waste (EPOW). This newsletter is produced regularly to keep you up to date with the programme.
The Sustainable Events Summit
The EPOW Team were invited to the fourth Sustainable Events Summit during June, to present the recently launched Resource Management Plan tool for the events industry and explain how the tool is making a difference through case study exemplars.
The tool was developed in conjunction with LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) with input from industry and is one of the outstanding projects granted the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.
Dr Mervyn Jones, Head of Products & Materials Team at WRAP, facilitated a round table discussion on waste and presented case studies based on the Resource Management Plan tool under the heading “Sustainability in Action”.
Commenting on the day Dr Jones said “The fourth Sustainable Events Summit was well attended by representatives across the events supply chain and clearly demonstrated the industry appetite to further embed sustainability within their organisations.”
In this issue...
Creating quality sustainable products
Development of new Waste Quality Protocols
We have completed our risk assessment for the Biomethane Quality Protocol, giving us an indication of the gases that are of concern. We have also received the Financial Impact Assessment which sets out the benefits from the development of the quality protocol. We are currently managing the internal review of the documents before they are sent to the Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) for their assessment.
Building on the risk assessments for poultry litter ash and paper sludge ash, we have completed the review of available data and produced a risk assessment methodology to consider. This approach will ensure that a robust assessment can be completed that will be comparable with similar materials.
Following the review of the available data on asphalt waste containing coal tar, we have decided not to progress with the risk assessment until we have more analytical data on contaminants. TAG members will carry out some analysis work to fill this data gap.
Promotion of existing Waste Quality Protocols
During June and July we ran free workshops for the construction and agriculture sectors in the South East. Workshops advised how quality assured recovered materials can strengthen business. The feedback from these events has been positive so far. As a result we hope that those who attended will use more recovered materials in place of virgin materials in the future. We will keep in touch with delegates to find out their experiences..
Further information:
Tackling waste crime
We have finalised the content of a good practice guide for complying with waste export requirements which is aimed at local authorities. The document is currently being developed into a digital format as requested by our stakeholders and will be launched shortly.
We continue to work with local police forces to implement a number of waste crime intervention techniques. Details have to remain under wraps until completed, but evaluation of the impact of the interventions will start at the end of September and be completed for the end of October 2011 when a report will be produced.
We have awarded a contract for a study into the effectiveness of different approaches to tackling waste tyre crime and build a better picture of the used tyre market and factors that impact on it for the South East and selected EU regions. The report is planned to be produced for September 2011.
Further information:
Creating demand for sustainable products
We are beginning to offer targeted assistance to public sector organisations (and, where relevant ,to their private sector supply chains) to advise on how to embed sustainable procurement strategies within their organisational policies and contracts.
To complement the targeted assistance, we are developing a number of training modules with supporting procurement wording guidance and contract clauses. The modules to be developed will focus on Information Communication Technology, furniture, textiles and reuse and remanufactured products. They will be designed to inform public sector employees with procurement responsibilities how to procure these products sustainably.
If you want to be involved in this project, please contact Tim Luckett.
Further information:
Creating trading platforms for sustainable products
Establish the necessary preconditions for developing commodity markets in waste or end of waste materials.
We will shortly issue a tender invitation document, requesting bids for research into the conditions required to set up a successful Commodity Market in the South East. We expect this work to commence mid-August. We are talking with members of the wood industry about becoming part of a steering group to support this task.
Extend and promote an effective waste exchange service.
We are also in receipt of a proposal to create an additional 20 waste exchanges in the South East. Once it has been reviewed and agreed, we are expecting this work to commence in August. Within this we have a target to divert a further 5,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.
Further information:
Support for waste sector development
We are working to set up a Stakeholder Forum looking at the barriers to improving recycling infrastructure in the South East.
In addition we will shortly be releasing an invitation for tender for a guidance document to advise local government and the waste industry on planning waste infrastructure development. This guidance will include input from the Stakeholder Forum.
Further information:
Increasing green compliance and awareness through innovative electronic tools
Throughout July we are developing our carbon decision tool for small business (SMEs). We expect to have a validated design specification to give to developers by mid August and, in parallel, we will be thinking about the best place to host the tool longer term. If you would like to be involved in testing the tool, or want to input into the design, please contact Gillian Limbrey.
Further information:
Supporting best practice
Supporting best practice through voluntary agreements
A local authority business recycling and waste collection commitment has been outlined in Defra’s Review of Waste Policy (Action 25) and will be launched in the coming weeks. It will be accompanied by a ‘resource pack’ for waste providers including information on:
- Collecting commercial recycling
- Co-collecting commercial and household waste/recycling on the same collection round
- Commercial and industrial waste/recycling ‘bring’ centres.
Once launched we will promote the commitment to Local Authorities in the South East.
Helping the Events Sector improve resource efficiency
We are carrying out research to inform our plans to help the events sector improve its resource efficiency.. We will use this research and examples of best practice to create a road map for organisations who want to run their events more sustainably.
As part of the road map we will look to provide useful tools. One support tool is already available. Working in partnership with LOCOG (the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games), WRAP has developed a free online tool for event organisers, venues and suppliers to create action plans to reduce event waste.
‘The tool not only helps organisations demonstrate corporate social responsibility, but can also generate cost savings from the planning and procurement stage right through to waste management costs’. If you want to be involved in this project, please contact Alex Querelle.
Further information:
Data Management
Our aim is to demonstrate how new methods of collecting, converting and presenting data and information on waste can stimulate progress towards a recycling society and provide "the best picture to date of waste generation in the South East ever".
We originally planned to achieve this through enhancements to the Environment Agency’s generic operator returns (GOR) and links with eDoc. Subsequent changes to timescales and priorities with the Environment Agency, however, mean this is no longer possible. We are now developing an alternative means to deliver the work.
Further Information
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