Waste debate to shape Warwickshire’s future
A challenging waste reduction target is among a number of issues being debated by a summit of county, borough and district councillors at the Warwickshire Waste Conference this week.
This conference, being held at Benn Hall in Rugby, allows the members of the Warwickshire Waste Partnership to debate the key issues they face in the immediate and long-term future.
One area to be discussed at the conference on Wednesday, November 7, will be the launch of Warwickshire’s Waste Minimisation Strategy
Warwickshire is one of the first council’s in the country to produce a Waste Minimisation Strategy. The strategy sets out not only how Warwickshire can recycle more, but also how the county can reduce the waste produced overall and so reduce the amount of left over rubbish we send to landfill.
Warwickshire Waste Minimisation Strategy 2007-15 has been produced by the Warwickshire Waste Partnership, involving all five district councils together with Warwickshire County Council working together.
The partnership has agreed to an Action Plan and very challenging targets to reduce waste by 10 per cent over the next eight years.
Speakers at the conference include DEFRA, London Community Recycling, Warwick District Council and other waste and recycling experts together with a varied audience of stakeholders including officers, members and community representatives.
The Government published it’s own “Waste Strategy for England 2007” in May 2007 which focuses on reducing waste by making products using fewer natural resources, reducing and re-using waste as well as breaking the link between economic growth and waste growth.
Warwickshire’s new strategy directly supports the Governments and also includes actions and targets to increase home composting, increase use of cotton nappies, reduce junk mail and increase smart shopping.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Chair of Warwickshire Waste Partnership and Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Warwickshire residents have been working hard over the last few years to increase the amount of material they separate for recycling.
"We hope that everyone will be just as committed when working to reduce the amount of rubbish they produce by thinking carefully about packaging when they’re in the supermarket and by home composting.”