Dorset Waste Partnership elects new Chairman

Councillor Anthony Alford has been elected as the new Chairman of the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) Joint Committee, taking over from Councillor Hilary Cox.

Alford is a district councillor for the Netherbury ward and Vice-Chairman of West Dorset District Council’s Executive Committee.

Launched three years ago, DWP aims to provide ‘a joined-up approach to waste, recycling and street cleaning services across the county’.

The Joint Committee is DWP’s decision-making body, which oversees the services it provides on behalf of its seven partner councils.

The partnership aims to increase Dorset’s recycling to more than 68 per cent by 2019 and to ‘drive down costs by £2 million a year’ by introducing the standardised ‘Recycle for Dorset’ collection service across the county.

Councillor Alford commented: “The partnership of the seven Dorset councils has led to a major transformation in the way that we collect and deal with waste, with a significant increase in the level of recycling and improved efficiency. The partnership has a clear direction and as the new chairman I look forward to seeing that our objectives are achieved.”

Read more about DWP.

MRWA launch black bin bag campaign

The Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA), alongside its contractor Veolia, has launched an education campaign focusing on reducing the amount of household ‘waste’ that is sent to landfill in black bin bags.

Members of staff at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) will be educating visitors about ‘what can and can’t be recycled’ and asking them to consider how they can reduce the amount of ‘black bin bag waste’ that goes to landfill.

The council claims that a trial of the campaign at an HWRC in St Helens ‘proved a huge success’, and it will now be expanded across Merseyside.

Chief Executive of MRWA Carl Beer said: “Hundreds of people turn up at HWRCs with black bin bags of waste that would normally have gone into their rubbish bins. The campaign is about showing residents that most of what they bring can actually be recycled – and could even have been simply left out for their regular kerbside recycling collections if they sort it first.”

Read more about MRWA.

Councils push recycling over World Cup Period

West Sussex County Council and Derbyshire County Council have both released guidance to encourage recycling during the 2014 World Cup.

Both councils have noted the expected increase in sales of ‘bottles, cans, newspapers and TVs’ during the tournament and aim to encourage fans to recycle as much as possible.

West Sussex is asking people to remember ‘the three Rs’ – reduce, reuse and recycle – in an attempt to increase the recycling rates of glass and plastic bottles, cans, and wasted food.

Derbyshire, meanwhile, has simply outlined its recycling facilities online and is also hosting a competition to win a ‘stylish new bin’ with specific recycling compartments to encourage sustainable behaviour.

West Sussex’s County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Lionel Barnard said: “By following a few simple steps, you can stay on the ball and help us to reduce the amount of waste in the county – and that’s something we can all celebrate.”

Give and Take Croyden

Croydon’s next Give and Take event will be taking place on 14 June.

A ‘simple concept’, Give and Take events offer residents the opportunity to donate their previously enjoyed items that ‘might still have a useful life’ and in return potentially claim other donated items.

The scheme aims to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill at the cost of residents and the environment, and to encourage extending the life of ‘all manner of goods’, ranging from toys and books to household items such as crockery and vases.

Speaking about the events, Councillor Stuart Collins, cabinet member with responsibility for Clean Green Croydon, said: “Give and Take is basically a kind of communal car-boot sale, but without money changing hands. It’s great that the donated items get a chance to carry on being useful instead of being simply thrown away...

“And the icing on the cake is that it sustains and reinforces Croydon’s enviable record in reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill.”

Read more about Croydon's Give and Take events.

Durham Green Moves Out

Durham County Council has announced that it will be working with Durham University, Durham Constabulary and Country Durham Furniture Help to deliver the Green Move Out scheme.

The scheme aims to encourage students to reuse and recycle as much as possible when they move out of their accommodation at the end of term and to ensure that waste is disposed of properly.

Durham County Council’s recycling team will be ‘on hand to advise students on what can and can’t be recycled’, and the university will be issuing yellow bags to encourage students to donate items ranging from books to in-date tins of food for reuse.

Terry Collins, corporate director of neighbourhood services at Durham County Council, said: “In June last year, more than 75 tonnes of additional household waste was generated in Durham City alone, which cost the council in excess of £10,000 to clean up, collect and dispose of.

“This year, we want to ensure that as much as possible is reused and recycled so, together with our partners, we are aiming to help students to sort their reusable items from their waste.”

Read more about the Green Move Out scheme.

Resource Futures CEO appointed to Bristol 2015 Board of Directors

Jane Stephenson, the current CEO of Resource Futures has joined the board of directors of Bristol 2015 Ltd, the new company established to ‘facilitate Bristol’s year as a European Green Capital’.

The annual European Green Capital award is designed to promote and reward the efforts of cities to improve the environment.

Commenting on the appointment, Stephenson said: “I am thrilled to have been asked to join the Bristol 2015 board. It is important that our work in 2015 does not end on 31stJanuary and is used a platform for change. This requires grass roots engagement which I am passionate about and I hope to contribute to in Bristol 2015’s delivery plan.”

Kris Donaldson, CEO of Bristol 2015 added: “Creating a platform for positive change, and influencing attitudes and behaviour, is a key goal for Bristol 2015, making Jane’s breadth of experience in community engagement invaluable.”

Find out more about Bristol 2015.