REVIEW Issue 9 March 2008

COVER STORY ...and..t that’s a wrap We report on the successes of the Recycle for campaign

Also inside

How are we performing? Think before you throw at your HWRC Recycle more in Wanna swap? - reuse on the web A lesson in LATS - biodegradable waste

Review is the partnership newsletter of Resource Cumbria. If you would like to access more information, advice and resources or even just keep up to date with what we are doing visit our website resourcecumbria.org 2007/08 has been an How are we performing? excellent year for our partnership. The number It is our fundamental aim to reach a recycling level of 50% in Cumbria by 2010 and the great news is that we’re of kilograms of waste closing in on that target. The table below highlights our performance over the last 4 years. With a concerted effort produced per head and a bit of luck we’ll top the 40% mark the end of 2007/08. of the population has decreased from 606kg 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 to Q3 to 546kg and recycling and composting of householder waste has 17.08% 26.62% 30.29% 37.29% increased to 40%. Barrow 27.55% 28.15% 27.30% 22.90% These things don’t just happen by chance, a lot 25.12% 27.89% 33.28% 48.31% of hard work goes into achieving these levels. We’ve brought into the partnership and used Copeland 23.29% 27.21% 31.01% 33.56% £1.7 million of external funding to improve and Eden 27.45% 30.29% 40.92% 48.78% promote our services. We have introduced a permit scheme diverting around 20,000 tonnes SLDC 29.91% 34.36% 37.60% 43.18% of commercial waste away from our Household Waste Recycling Centres. We’ve sold over 6000 Cumbria 25.55% 29.94% 34.2% 39.71% compost bins diverting even more green waste away from landfill. We’ve engaged over 3700 source: Combined recycling and composting percentages. BVPI Waste Management Report. pupils in our schools, furthermore our Recycling Rewards for Schools scheme has resulted in So how are we going to reach 50%? approximately 42,000 homes ‘pledging’ to recycle. There’s no doubt that the partnership has made excellent progress over the past couple of years and we must build on this success - this is exactly what we will do. Our targets over the next few years are Our list of achievements is truly challenging but we’ve built an excellent platform through which we can aim to achieve them. impressive and when you consider that we are still a Our future strategy has been laid out in the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy young partnership, really quite 2007 - 2020. This is available to download at resourcecumbria.org but a section of it is amazing. highlighted below. These are our recommended options for the future waste management in Cumbria. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for all Adopt a Cumbria-wide common method of kerbside collection of dry recyclables of their hard work in getting and garden waste as far as is reasonably practicable. us where we are. We should all be proud of our genuine Optimise the number of Recycle Points and Household Waste Recycling Centres, achievements. linking provision to the expansion of kerbside services and waste prevention. Enhanced commercial waste recycling - targeting biodegradable materials. Reducing municipal waste produced by 1% per year through waste prevention. Maximise the benefits of recycling and composting to the local and regional economy. Increased treatment capacity to minimise landfill of municipal waste and Graham Harrison accommodate third party waste. Head of Waste Management Cumbria County Council Further reduce reliance on landfill by increasing treatment capacity. k k k k k k Meet the members k

The Partnership Board meeting minutes and other @allerdale.gov.u documents are available at resourcecumbria.org ouncillor Geoff Blackwell [email protected] Councillor Ian Stewart Cumbria County Council [email protected] Councillor Dave Roberts Barrow Borough Council [email protected] Councillor Bryan Metz Council [email protected] C [email protected] Copeland Borough Council Councillor Sam Standage Allerdale Borough Council sam.standage Councillor Brenda Woof District Council [email protected] Councillor Ray Bloxham Councillor Ray Carlisle City Council r

1 11111111dfgdfgasdasd2 REVIEW REVIEW 111111111dfgdfgasdasd3 Think before you throw at your HWRC

Resource Cumbria and Cumbria Waste Management (CWM) - the Cumbria County Council owned company which runs Cumbria’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) - are Campaign asking householders across the county to ‘think before they ...and that’s a WRAP. highlights throw’ in an effort to further improve recycling rates. The campaign is a drive to encourage people to make sure they separate out recyclable material before throwing their bin bags It’s been 18 months of hard work for those involved in Resource Cumbria, but as Family focused Christmas recycling into the general waste skip at their HWRC. our Government funded behavioural change campaign draws to close the results campaign aimed at encouraging the use of recycling services over the HWRCs are recycling centres to help people to recycle as much are in - Recycle for Cumbria has been a resounding success. festive season as possible and allow them to dispose properly of difficult or Countywide Golf Tournament and bulky items such as engine oil, old TVs and furniture as well as Since completing the majority of the campaign work Since we embarked on the Recycle for Cumbria associated Junk Art Competition other recyclables like plastic, paper and garden waste. towards the end of last year we embarked on our post campaign in October 2006 we’ve accomplished a hosted by John Craven. campaign monitoring to answer the most important great deal - you need only look though the campaign However, far too much of the material going into HWRC general question of all - did it work? highlights to see that. However any project can only be Bingo themed recycling campaign waste has not had recyclable material taken out. In fact, when judged on it’s success. You have to achieve what you featuring bus and press advertising CWM investigated the issue by sifting through the contents of Throughout the campaign we communicated with set out to do and we’ve certainly done that” and a recycling competition in the general waste skips at eight of the county’s 13 HWRCs, they a huge number of people, either though advertised county’s free newspapers. found that around 30 per cent was recyclable material. messages and printed information or face to face “While ultimately it boils down to increasing recycling The creation of a dedicated recycling at roadshows or on doorsteps. And these efforts are levels we can’t understate the importance of raising helpline. With 35,941 tonnes going into the general waste skips of HWRCs certainly evident. Within the space of a year, of the awareness of the issues within Cumbria as well. in 2006/7, that means that almost 11,000 tonnes of recyclable A series of recycling roadshows Cumbrians we surveyed, recycling has increased across Through our collective campaign work and over material was last year sent to landfill when it could have been the board. The largest increase occured with our first £33,000 worth of free media coverage our work The development of a library of recycled. target group of families who recycle occasionally - here generated, we’ve done just that too. resources to encourage consistent participation rose an incredible 11%. partnership communications including The eight week ‘Think Before You Throw’ campaign will target Emma Marsh, WRAP Local Communications Project an image library, an advertising style the problem with specially trained staff at the county’s three Perhaps more impressive still is that fact that the Manager was also keen to offer her congratulations. and a newsletter template. busiest HWRCs (Bousteads Grassing in Carlisle, Flusco in number of those considered ‘committed’ recyclers has The employment of three recycling Eden and the Barrow site) offering advice and information on also increased. This term refers to individuals who will “The Cumbria Waste Partnership behavioural change segregating recyclable materials from general waste. recycle even if it requires additional effort. Amazingly, campaign has been a genuine success with some rangers to help engage with Cumbrian householders. with an 8% increase, the group who have gained more fantastic increases seen in residents participation in Ian Stewart, Cumbria County Council cabinet member committed recyclers than any other are our third group, their recycling schemes and a real reduction in The creation of a householder responsible for waste management, said: “We want to stop families who recycle infrequently or not at all. contamination of recycling containers. Both the recycling pack for each district people simply bringing black bags full of waste that include partnership and residents should feel really proud of highlighting all of the various recycling items that should be recycled and throwing the lot into the non- Julian Diaper, Cumbria County Council’s Project their achievements and we look forward to working services available in the area. recyclable waste skips. We want to encourage people to use the Development Officer, hails a job well done. with them in the future to continue to build on this The distribution of 164,000 copies of sites as recycling centres and will be promoting good practice excellent accomplishment..” and urging everyone to think about what they are bringing and “Everybody involved has done a tremendous job. the ‘Recycling Times’ newspaper supplement. about whether it can be recycled instead.”

1 11111111dfgdfgasdasd 1 11111111dfgdfgasdasd4 REVIEW REVIEW 111111111dfgdfgasdasd5 This March saw the first of the Resource Cumbria ‘intensive’ waste prevention campaigns. These campaigns comprise a concerted effort between county and district colleagues to increase recycling in areas with low uptake. Here’s how we intend to encourage people to... Recycle more in Cleator Moor

The two week campaign kicked off at the end George Clements, deputy leader of Copeland of February when every household in the town Borough Council, said, “I am delighted that we are received a door drop of one of our recycling able to promote recycling in Cleator Moor. Many services householder packs and also a leaflet people are aware of the reasons for recycling, and explaining how to participate in a fantastic the ways that they can do it, but it is important we competition. get this message out to as many more people as Wanna Swap? possible. I feel confident that by promoting our The ‘Great Cleator Moor Recycling Giveaway’ services, which we have worked hard to improve will see everyone who uses their black recycling – particularly with the kerbside scheme, we can A couple of years ago there was a story in the news box given entry into a prize draw every time they increase recycling in the area, and throughout about a Canadian man who swapped a paper clip for use it as part of the recycling scheme. The reward Copeland.” a house. Balderdash I hear you say! We’ll tis true. He is the chance to win up to a total of £1000 worth started with a paper clip swapped it for a pen. He then of vouchers to spend at the town’s Co-operative Ian Stewart, chairman of Resource Cumbria and swapped the pen for a door knob. Then the door knob supermarket. Cumbria County Council cabinet member for for a camping stove. A series of 14 trades ensued, all waste management, said, “This is a great scheme bigger and better than the last. He ended up with a The intensive campaign is not just about door to help get more people recycling more of their house in the town of Kipling in Canada. drops and competitions however; officers from waste. We are doing well all over Cumbria with both district and county, along with all three the improvement in recycling rates for household True story! recycling rangers, have been actively hitting the waste but we can do much more. This is a way road visiting all manner of local venues to talk to of making sure everyone knows what they Anyway the point is that people love to swap. And why people and encourage them to recycle. can do to help benefit the environment do we love doing this so much? Quite simply so that we by keeping waste out of landfill and can get something that we want for something that we “It’s been a busy two weeks that’s for sure” said to help keep down the cost of waste don’t. And it doesn’t cost us a bean. Recycling Ranger Judith Bradshaw. “We’ve been disposal for Council Tax payers.” to schools holding assemblies and led activity What you maybe don’t realise though is that there is a sessions at youth groups and the brownies. We The intensive campaigns are not very real environmental benefit to swapping. If you swap even managed to get a kerbside collection vehicle just about recycling though, we are it, you don’t bin it and that’s good news for everybody. at one of the local primary schools so we could encouraging both reduce and reuse show the children exactly what happens when their practices too. Recycling ranger Mark Resource Cumbria are trying the resurrect the practice black box gets collected. Some of them even had a Buchanan explains how. “We’ve been of swapping in Cumbria through our website, go themselves. tackling plastic carrier bags in a big recycleforcumbria.org/swapit. Here people can post way. We’ve held two plastic bag amnesties items that they have available to swap or even highlight “Children are really important to Cumbria’s at the local Co-op where we’ve been able to items that they would like in exchange. environment as afterall they are the recyclers of spread the 3Rs message while helping people pack tomorrow. However we need results today so we’ve their groceries into a reusable bag for life. We’ve The brand new swap shop is just one of the new also been talking to as many adults as possible. even developed a slightly cooler ‘Teenage DirtBag’ interactive features that have been added to the recycle We‘ve held roadshows and recycling clinics all over to encourage younger shoppers to reuse”. for Cumbria website. The site has recently undergone the town and been able to not only offer advice an overhaul to make it easier to navigate and so more and encouragement but also resolve problems Copeland Borough Council will be monitoring useful to the people of Cumbria. that householders have now. The most important Cleator Moor closely over the next couple of of which being helping those who are unable to months to see how successful the campaign has Recycleforcumbria.org is the one stop shop for all recycle. Throughout the two weeks we managed been. The next stage is to roll the formula out to recycling service information and advice on all aspects to give out 260 new black boxes. If each of these other areas in the County. So who knows, you of the 3Rs. Why not take a few minutes to have a look is taken away and used this alone could result in might see the Resource Cumbria team up close through the site and see what’s on offer. 17.4 tonnes* being diverted from landfill over the and in person in a town near you soon. year.

* Based on an average annual Cleator Moor recycling container weight of 67 kilograms Teenage DirtBag image courtesy of the News

1 11111111dfgdfgasdasd 111111111dfgdfgasdasd 6 REVIEW111111111dfgdfgasdasd6 REVIEW 7 a lesson in LATS The importance of biodegradable waste

The EU Landfill Directive, includes a requirement for member states to achieve phased reductions in the quantity of 1 Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW). NO ACTION TAKEN The Directive is aimed at reducing the So for every 10 tonnes of MSW contribution of waste management to global 10 sent to landfill 6.8 tonnes of it warming by reducing the amount of methane tonnes would be biodegradable and 6.8 MSW liable for fines. tonnes emitted during the rotting of biodegradable BMW rubbish in landfill sites. LATS fines To achieve this the EU has issued targets 2 which limit the amount of BMW which is OUR BEST ACTION sent to landfill. These targets are enforced If we then recycle or compost 1 through the Landfill Allowance Trading 10 tonne of our 6.8 tonnes only 5.8 Scheme (LATS). tonnes tonnes of it would go to landfill 5.8 MSW and be liable for fines. tonnes BMW So what is biodegradable waste? Lowest LATS fines This is anything that is capable of undergoing 3 anaerobic or aerobic decomposition - OUR SECOND BEST ACTION basically anything that rots. Things like If we were to first remove a kitchen waste, garden waste, paper, card, 9 tonne through waste reduction, disposable nappies, wood, and textiles. tonnes only 68% of 9 tonnes, which 6.12 MSW would be 6.12 tonnes of tonnes biodegradable waste, would go BMW And why is it so important? to landfill and be liable for fines. 2nd Lowest The reason biodegradable waste is so 4 LATS fines important is that this is the single factor OUR THIRD BEST ACTION which dictates how much Cumbria would be fined under the LATS scheme. The If we increase the MSW by 1 11 tonne of biodegradable waste government states that 68% of municipal tonnes but recycle it, we’d be looking at 6.48 waste is biodegradable and will issue fines MSW 68% of 11 tonnes which is 7.48 tonnes tonnes. But as the extra tonne BMW accordingly. Our main priority is to therefore has been recycled we’d only be remove as much of this from the waste dealing with 6.48 tonnes going 3rd lowest to landfill. stream as we can. LATS fines

However, biodegradable waste is so important to LATS calculations that as long Our key LATS priority is recycling as much QED! as we are able to recycle it, there is even biodegradable waste as possible even if it benefits to be gained from having it in means collecting more of it. This is the most the waste stream. This is explained in the effective way we can limit the onerous fines diagram to the right. that LATS present.

1 11111111dfgdfgasdasd8 REVIEW Got a suggestion for REVIEW? Contact [email protected] or 01228 607773