454 million tonnes of waste are produced in the UK each year, and this is rising by between 1 and 3% every year (Waste Watch). By some estimates, if waste carries on growing at this rate we will have doubled our waste load by 2020. This level of waste produced presents two questions:

“What are we going to do with all this waste?”

“How do we manage the continuing growth of this waste load?”

Many possible combinations of solutions can answer these questions. These solutions in turn are complex and affect a wide array of parties or stakeholders (e.g. National Government, local waste authorities, waste management companies, industry and consumers). The Environment Council believes careful decision-making processes, which consider the broad range of needs from the different stakeholders, are essential. Moreover, recent Government policies such as landfill taxes and recycling targets have prioritised the need to discuss disposal options and effectively manage the waste growth.

The Environment Council works to facilitate decisions and discussions in waste on both a national level and with local waste authorities. Current and previous activities include:

Convening the National Resource and Waste Forum (NRWF), a unique cross-sectoral forum that brings together members from the public, private and voluntary sector on a regular basis to discuss and work towards solutions for the challenge of household waste prevention...more

A major output from the NRWF is a useable household Waste Prevention Toolkit for local authorities… more

International research into household waste prevention policy for Defra’s waste and resources R&D strategy… more

The national stakeholder dialogue on waste tyres, informing Government policy on classification of this waste stream and disposal protocol… more

Working with local waste authorities to develop recycling and waste prevention strategies and targets. Examples of work include North London Waste Authority’s Waste prevention strategy, North Yorkshire council’s recycling strategy and both Surrey and Kent council’s waste development frameworks.

A newly updated resource for local authorities, “Better Engagement in the Waste Sector” is now available detailing how better engagement in the waste sector can be achieved. This, along with supporting documents, take into account all current Government requirements for engagement as well as The Environment Council’s expertise in both stakeholder engagement and waste… more

For further information please contact Erica Sutton by email  or by phone on 02076320117.