Waste Management Panel

Thursday 20th October 2005

WasteAware Update

Report of Director of Environment

Author: Bryony Whittle 01992 556184

Executive Member: Stuart Pile

1. WasteAware Education Pack (KS2)

1.1In total 150 schools attended the education pack launches held in the summer. Three winning teachers were chosen at random from the accompanying competition to visit the Eden Project and LostGardens of Heligan in Cornwall. A news release promoted the new pack and the prize winners. The roll-out of the education pack continues to all the schools that did not attend the launches.

1.2A questionnaire is being used to evaluate the usefulness of the information in the pack.

  1. Doorstepping Campaign

2.1The doorsteppingcampaign has now been completed in the districts of Stevenage, Broxbourne, East Herts, Watford, North Herts, and St Albans. The doorsteppers are still present in Dacorum, Hertsmere, Welwyn and Hatfield and ThreeRivers.

2.2There have been some difficulties with recruiting sufficient doorsteppers to complete the project and we are working closely with the contractor to ensure sufficient householders receive the service. We currently have made contact with over 63,000householders, a contact rate of 38%, and intend to make contact with 91,000 householders in total before the project is completed in October. The total households targeted so far is 161,000.

2.3There has been very positive feedback from the residents so far and the information collected will contribute towards the final report that will be produced at the end of the project. The information will help improve further campaigns.

  1. New Project Ideas

3.1Due to many projects drawing to a close there has been a period of reflection and creation of new ideas for future campaign activities. A list of projects have been suggested and sub working groups have been set up to make provisional plans and costs. The best projects will be carried forward in the work programme for the next 12 months. Some examples are:

  • A Fashion Show – Secondary Schools competition, to design, cost, produce and market a fashion garment made from reclaimed materials. Districts will hold heats and a Countywide final will take place. The competition will link the school curriculum.
  • Text Message Campaign – Targeting the 11-16 age group, a competition which will involve investigating information about waste reduction and recycling will be promoted via cinema advertising/Website to find suitable answers which will enter them into a competition for a prize such as an MP3 player.
  • Educational Plays – Commission a theatre company to present educational plays, workshops or discussion groups in schools to educate about Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
  • Generic Leaflets – To produce a collection of leaflets that present the variety of ways that waste can be processed i.e. Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF’s), Composting. Also leaflets on the reclamation and production of new materials from recycled material such as plastics and glass.
  • Shopping Guide – Produce a handy guide to take shopping to help choose the best products to reduce packaging waste. Hints and tips on how to make choices about what to take home from the supermarket in terms of packaging.
  • Nappies Leaflet – Reproduce a booklet that is full of helpful information about real nappies. Distribute to hospitals, doctors and other health professionals to encourage new mums to use real nappies.
  • Christmas ‘Advent’ Calendar – Produce calendars which contain facts and tips behind the windows on how to reduce waste, recycle and reuse materials.
  1. Maternity Leave – Bryony Whittle has been appointed, through a secondment from the Rights Of Way Unit, into the WasteAware Coordinators post whilst Clare Haworth is on maternity leave.