Community recycling group announces second phase of council support

The Recycling Consortium, which was set up by Avon Friends of the Earth in 1989, is providing one-year support to councils who have integrated community-based action into their waste strategies. The project will help councils set up community groups to identify and tackle waste issues in their area.

The scheme, called the Community Waste Action programme, aims to increase recycling rates by engaging the local community and encouraging the public's participation and support.

The project is being run in two phases and the Recycling Consortium is currently working with nine local authorities to help them meet their waste targets. The recycling group is now looking for 10 more councils to take part in the 2002/03 phase of the scheme. The project is supported by Biffaward and Shell Better Britain Campaign.

Under the programme, councils will be set targets for waste reduction and recycling which will be achieved by sharing best practice. Using a system of training days, newsletters, network building and ongoing support, the programme helps local authority staff to find sources of funding and to work with community groups. The programme is based around an information and resource pack called the “Community Waste Action Toolkit”.

The participants in the 2001-2002 programme are: Calderdale Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Lancashire County Council, Newcastle City Council, Norfolk County Council, Oxfordshire County Council, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and West Berkshire District Council.

Mark Walton, senior development officer for the programme, said: “Meeting national recycling, composting and waste minimisation targets isn’t just a matter of big schemes and complex contracts. It doesn’t matter what system you have in place if you can’t engage the local community and encourage their participation and support. Without changes in attitudes and behaviours towards waste, nothing will really change.”

He added: “Local authorities are now free to form innovative partnerships to promote the well being of their residents. We believe that through such partnerships this programme can deliver real benefits, not only in terms of waste reduction and reuse, but also in developing strong, sustainable communities.”