NORTH LONDON WASTE AUTHORITY
REPORT TITLE:
NORTH LONDON WASTE PREVENTION UPDATE
REPORT OF:
HEAD OF WASTE STRATEGY & CONTRACTS
FOR SUBMISSION TO: / DATE:
AUTHORITY MEETING / 25th SEPTEMBER 2012
SUMMARY OF REPORT:
This report outlines actions and achievements towards implementing the waste prevention objectives outlined in the North London Joint Waste Strategy and the associated Waste Prevention Plan 2012-14.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Authority is recommended to:
(i) note the waste prevention activity from 1st April to 31st August 2012;
(ii) delegate authority to the Managing Director to approve letters to be sent from the Chair of the Authority to identified companies highlighting the need to reduce packaging waste and enquiring about what alternative steps they have taken rather than signing the Courtauld Commitment; and
(iii) note the Authority’s participation in the ‘Waste Less, Live More’ week from 17th to 23rd September 2012.
Signed by: / Head of Waste Strategy & Contracts / ………………………………………
Date:......
1.0 STRATEGIC CONTEXT
1.1 The North London Joint Waste Strategy (NLJWS), February 2009, provides the framework for progress towards reducing, reusing and recovering a greater proportion of the municipal waste which is generated in the North London Waste Authority area and reducing the amount which is sent for disposal to landfill.
1.2 As these strategy implementation actions are high-level, a Waste Prevention Plan is developed bi-annually to identify the shorter term, practical actions that are needed to achieve these high-level aims.
1.3 This report updates Members on progress made with implementing the Waste Prevention Plan 2012-14, as approved by Members at the February 2012 Authority Meeting.
2.0 WASTE PREVENTION PLAN 2012-14
2.1 The work programme for 2012-14, identified food waste as a priority waste stream, followed by furniture re-use and packaging. Promotion of other waste streams such as unwanted mail, textiles and composting will be routinely undertaken to complement the waste prevention programme.
2.2 In order to deliver on the new, enhanced Waste Prevention Plan, two new Waste Prevention Officers have been recruited on fixed term contracts.
2.3 Key actions that have taken place on waste prevention since the start of the programme on 1st April 2012 are outlined in the sections that follow.
3.0 FOOD WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITY
3.1 Work is progressing on the intensive north London food waste reduction campaign. At the time of writing this report, 53 events were attended with direct engagement of more than 3,600 north London residents. The full list of events delivered so far is at Appendix 1.
3.2 Officers are in the process of finalising the bookings for 38 events while investigating others. The full list of future events can be found at Appendix 2. The north London events are highlighted to the public via the Authority’s website at http://www.nlwa.gov.uk/foodwaste and also feature on the national Love Food Hate Waste website www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.
3.3 To reinforce the Love Food Hate Waste message during the Diamond Jubilee and provide north London residents with tips and advice on how they could enjoy the celebrations whilst keeping waste to a minimum, half page advertorials were placed in local publications accompanied by half-page generic Love Food Hate Waste adverts.
3.4 To complement the outreach work the Authority already delivers, a higher profile ‘food waste, money saving challenge’ project is currently being developed through a contract with Waste Watch. The project consists of two elements:
· An intensive household challenge with participation of seven households (one per constituent borough) focussing on actual waste prevention and money saving gains they have been able to make following advice from food waste advisers.
· A wider call to all north London residents to take part in a challenge to reduce food waste by planning their meals more effectively with the aim of reducing food waste and saving money on their weekly shopping. A minimum of 100 entries are expected to be received as part of this challenge.
3.5 To celebrate the 25 years of the organisation, Waste Watch are organising a ‘Waste Less, Live More’ week, which will take place between 17th and 23rd September. The week will consist of activities that will complement the Authority’s activities such that co-operation will be to our mutual benefit. During the week, Authority Officers will promote messages related to packaging, food waste, textiles and composting.
4.0 FURNITURE RE-USE ACTIVITY
4.1 Work on furniture re-use is progressing and a proposal has been developed in partnership with the London Community Resource Network (LCRN) to complement the development of the London Re-use Network (LRN), a not-for-profit social enterprise. The work programme in north London, which will be additional to LRN’s planned activity, includes the following elements:
· Establishment of three new trials and three membership schemes between Housing Associations and northern cluster partners for voids clearance services;
· Creation of pop-up shops focusing on paint re-use on estates in partnership with FRP, RICI and Origin Housing;
· Pilot trials of fit-out-services for new tenants with housing providers and other bulky waste producers; and
· Mapping of bulky waste producers and production of a feasibility study on how to proceed in the future.
4.2 Please note that the work listed is included within the overall budget of £40k, and that other activities will be developed during the year.
5.0 PACKAGING
5.1 On the basis that Producer Responsibility regulations put market pressures on businesses, and that voluntary agreements such as the Courtauld Commitment promote packaging reduction throughout the whole supply chain, it was agreed in the North London Waste Prevention Plan 2012-14 that policy measures are utilised to promote packaging reduction in north London.
5.2 Officers are exploring options and assessing the most effective instruments on the need to reduce packaging and generate a greater understanding of the need for action. It is proposed that officers seek to identify companies that are obligated under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 and that a letter is sent from the Chair of the Authority to those that have not signed the Courtauld Commitment from WRAP, to highlight the need to reduce packaging waste and enquiring about what alternative steps they have taken rather than signing the Courtauld Commitment.
5.3 At the same time, packaging reduction is promoted whenever possible when engaging with the public; for example during the ‘Waste Less, Live More’ week and ‘Love Food, Hate Waste’ events via ‘waste-free lunches’, through provision of reusable cotton bags as opposed to plastic bag alternatives, and through the promotion of smart shopping messages and the Waste Prevention Guide for Businesses.
6.0 HOME COMPOSTING
6.1 Three composting events were held on 11th, 12th and 13th May to coincide with the Compost Awareness Week, in partnership with LCRN and LondonWaste Ltd in areas with low uptake of previous home composting promotions by the constituent borough councils. Overall, 157 compost bins and approximately 25 tonnes of compost were distributed at specially organised events and the initiative received positive feedback from the public.
6.2 Six additional events are to be delivered in September 2012 to encourage compost bin uptake by offering residents of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest 480 compost bins which will be allocated as equally as possible to each of the six boroughs. The events are going to be held in line with the schedule below:
Date / Borough / LocationSaturday 08 September / Barnet / Civic Amenity & Recycling Centre
Saturday 15 September / Camden / Regis Road Re-use and
Recycling Centre
Friday 28 September / Enfield / LondonWaste Eco Park
Saturday 29 September / Haringey / ReStore Community Projects
Sunday 16 September / Islington / Freightliners City Farm
Saturday 22 September / Waltham Forest / King’s Road Recycling Centre
6.3 Following discussions with Hackney Council Officers, and as an alternative method of composting for residents living in flats, it was proposed that centralised estates composting facilities were offered in Hackney to a similar value to the home composting activity in each of the other boroughs. Work on identification of the sites, sites visits and installation of the facilities will commence in February 2013.
7.0 BUSINESS WASTE PREVENTION
7.1 The sixth edition of the Waste Prevention Guide for Businesses will be finalised very soon. The Guide will provide practical advice on how businesses can reduce their environmental impact whilst reducing costs, offer tips and information on where businesses can find support and features case studies from local businesses that have been proactive in their approach to waste reduction[1].
7.2 The Guide will be promoted to local businesses and business networks and will be available for download from the Authority website at http://www.nlwa.gov.uk/waste-resources/businesses/free-guide-to-waste-prevention. Hard copies will also be available upon request.
8.0 TEXTILE RE-USE
8.1 A series of adverts has been booked in Council magazines and publications to promote textile re-use by encouraging residents to hold their own ‘swishing’ clothes swap party at home.
8.2 The adverts have a call to action for residents to download a copy of the ‘swishing’ guide, which comprises information and ideas on how residents can hold their own events and options for responsibly disposing of any leftover clothes and shoes in line with the waste hierarchy.
9.0 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY
9.1 The ‘Compost Crusaders’ project has now been completed with all the performances and follow-up visits delivered. Through this programme, the composting message reached an estimated audience of 4,200 pupils and their families and 80 teachers across 12 different schools. A brief evaluation of this activity can be found at Appendix 3.
9.2 Additionally, an intensive educational programme is currently being planned in partnership with the seven constituent boroughs. The sessions will be held between September 2012 and February 2013 and will offer the opportunity to one primary school per constituent borough to have a number of visits from specialised educators.
9.3 The sessions will be provided by the environmental charity EcoACTIVE who will deliver cross-curricular workshops and programmes. The sessions will provide an effective way of delivering environmental education to a diverse audience of young people and offer them the opportunity to build skills, knowledge and understanding of waste issues. Members will be advised of the list of participating schools once it is finalised.
10.0 PRESS RELEASE SCHEDULE
10.1 A press release schedule has been devised in liaison with the Authority’s Communications Officers. The full schedule of the Authority’s press release activity is at Appendix 4.
11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
11.1 The Authority is recommended to:
(i) note the waste prevention activity from 1st April to 31st August 2012;
(ii) delegate authority to the Managing Director to approve letters to be sent from the Chair of the Authority to identified companies highlighting the need to reduce packaging waste and enquiring about what alternative steps they have taken rather than signing the Courtauld Commitment; and
(iii) note the Authority’s participation in the ‘Waste Less, Live More’ week from 17th to 23rd September 2012.
12.0 COMMENTS OF THE FINANCIAL ADVISER
12.1 The Financial Adviser has been consulted in the preparation of this report and has no comments to add.
13.0 COMMENTS OF THE LEGAL ADVISER
13.1 The Legal Adviser has been consulted in the preparation of this report and has no comments to add.
Local Government Act 1972 – Access to information
Documents used: North London Waste Prevention Plan 2012-14
Contact Officers: Andrew Lappage, Head of Waste Strategy & Contracts
Dimitra Rappou, Waste Prevention Manager
Lee Valley Technopark
Unit 169, Ashley Road
Tottenham, N17 9LN
Tel: 020 8489 5730
Fax: 020 8365 0254
Appendix 1: Events attended from 11th May to 12th September 2012
12/05/2012 / Compost Bin Giveaway / Camden
13/05/2012 / Compost Bin Giveaway / Waltham Forest
02/06/2012 / Mayton Street Festival / Islington
03/06/2012 / Big Day Out / Islington
04/06/2012 / Diamond Jubilee Festival / Barnet
07/06/2012 / Grahame Park Community Centre / Barnet
09/06/2012 / London Green Fair / Camden
10/06/2012 / London Green Fair / Camden
15/06/2012 / Business food waste / Islington
16/06/2012 / Grahame Park Fun day / Barnet
18/06/2012 / Clissold Park, Recycle Week / Hackney
20/06/2012 / O/S Sainsbury's / Hackney
02/07/2012 / Wood Green Library / Haringey
04/07/2012 / Hackney Community College Summer Fest / Hackney
06/07/2012 / Stuff For Free / Enfield
07/07/2012 / Stuff For Free / Enfield
07/07/2012 / Regents Park Estate residents' day / Camden
08/07/2012 / Stuff For Free / Enfield
10/07/2012 / Summer on the Green / Haringey
13/07/2012 / One O'Clock Club healthy living day / Hackney
14/07/2012 / Parliament Hill Farmers Market / Camden
19/07/2012 / Ridley Road Market / Hackney
21/07/2012 / Hackney Homemade Market / Hackney
22/07/2012 / Edmonton Carnival / Enfield
23/07/2012 / Rowland Hill Children's Centre / Haringey
25/07/2012 / Camden Fun Day / Camden
26/07/2012 / Camden Olympic Torch event / Camden
31/07/2012 / Noel Park Children's Centre / Haringey
03/08/2012 / Larkswood Leisure Centre / Waltham Forest
07/08/2012 / Woodside Children’s Centre / Haringey
07/08/2012 / Marcus Garvey Library / Haringey
08/08/2012 / Leather Lane Market / Camden
09/08/2012 / Leyton Leisure Centre / Waltham Forest
10/08/2012 / RAF museum / Barnet
11/08/2012 / Rhodes TRA community event / Hackney
12/08/2012 / Chingford Day / Waltham Forest
13/08/2012 / Kelmscott Leisure / Waltham Forest
14/08/2012 / Bounds Green Children’s Centre / Haringey
16/08/2012 / Waltham Forest Track & Pool / Waltham Forest
17/08/2012 / Peter May Leisure / Waltham Forest
18/08/2012 / Friern Barnet Summer Fest / Barnet
19/08/2012 / Down Lane Park Summer Fest / Haringey
21/08/2012 / Waltham Forest YMCA / Waltham Forest
22/08/2012 / Britannia Leisure Centre / Hackney
24/08/2012 / Foodcycle Summer event / Haringey
26/08/2012 / PARAde Sport & Disability event / Haringey
29/08/2012 / Blooming Marvellous Urban Country Fair / Islington
30/08/2012 / Clissold Leisure Centre / Hackney
01/09/2012 / Enfield Autumn Town Show / Enfield
02/09/2012 / Angel Canal Festival / Islington
04/09/2012 / Copthall Leisure / Barnet
08/09/2012 / Barnet compost event / Barnet
09/09/2012 / Leyton Day / Waltham Forest
12/09/2012 / HCC Freshers’ Fair / Hackney
12/09/2012 / Waltham Forest College Freshers’ Fair / Waltham Forest
Appendix 2: Future events