I was at an event over the weekend at a major exhibition centre. Outside there were loads of recycling bins, which was good to see.
However, inside near the food areas, there were traditional waste bins. Clearly, the public wanted to recycle as recyclables had been left separated next to the bin. But they had nowhere to do it without going out of the hall.
The lesson is obviously that recycling always needs to be convenient.
Paul Sanderson, editor, MRW
Monday, 20 April 2009
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Current climate makes for more creative solutions
I had an interesting conversation with the MD of an equipment manufacturer this week. While he acknowledged that the current economic situation had inevitably had an effect on business, he did note that businesses were still willing to spend money if you were able to offer them a solution to their particular problem rather than simply an 'off the shelf' type answer.
While this is not a 'quick win' approach it is one that has paid dividends for the company in question. It has led to businesses coming back and placing more orders and has helped to demonstrate the market expertise and professionalism of the manufacturer in question.
It just goes to show that if you can demonstrate the value gained, businesses are still willing to part with their hard earned cash.
Andrea Height, deputy editor, MRW
While this is not a 'quick win' approach it is one that has paid dividends for the company in question. It has led to businesses coming back and placing more orders and has helped to demonstrate the market expertise and professionalism of the manufacturer in question.
It just goes to show that if you can demonstrate the value gained, businesses are still willing to part with their hard earned cash.
Andrea Height, deputy editor, MRW
Monday, 6 April 2009
Second World War thrift - can it work now?
We did a story on www.mrw.co.uk last week about how 60% of people think we need a World War II attitude to cut waste.
Certainly, the attitude of the 1940's would go a long way to meeting the waste minimisation and re-use sections at the top of the waste hieararchy.
The difficulty is that we live in completely different times. Even in this recession, as a population we have a lot more than (in my case) our grandparents did and access to greater consumer choice. The most obvious example being that rationing in the '40's was essential and was a strong factor in making people thrifty with what they had - now it would be seen as ridiculous.
But, there is certainly a lot we can learn from those times and a bit of thrift now would go a long way.
Certainly, the attitude of the 1940's would go a long way to meeting the waste minimisation and re-use sections at the top of the waste hieararchy.
The difficulty is that we live in completely different times. Even in this recession, as a population we have a lot more than (in my case) our grandparents did and access to greater consumer choice. The most obvious example being that rationing in the '40's was essential and was a strong factor in making people thrifty with what they had - now it would be seen as ridiculous.
But, there is certainly a lot we can learn from those times and a bit of thrift now would go a long way.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
WRAP to be single delivery body
WRAP have today announced that they are to be the single delivery body for a range of resource efficiency services. This seems like a good idea to me as it means more clarity and fingers crossed more efficient services.
To see more of this story from MRW
Paul Sanderson, editor, MRW
To see more of this story from MRW
Paul Sanderson, editor, MRW
Monday, 23 March 2009
Energy from waste or incineration?
I chaired a seminar last week and energy from waste was high on the agenda.
Despite my efforts to negotiate a middle ground, it was clear that there was a divide between supporters of combined heat and power plants from the waste industry and engineers and those from the environmental lobby such as Friends of the Earth.
Indeed, it was interesting to see their use of terminology with the waste industry and engineering delegates talking of EfW and CHP and the environmentalists of incineration.
My view is that EfW and CHP has a place in a well structured hierarchy of waste with the usual re-use and recycle etc coming first. Terms such as incineration do an injustice to efficient modern plants as it gives the impression of burning waste with a stack belching out untreated pollutants. Maybe that is why the enviornmental lobby are so keen to use the word incineration.
Paul Sanderson, editor, MRW and www.mrw.co.uk
Despite my efforts to negotiate a middle ground, it was clear that there was a divide between supporters of combined heat and power plants from the waste industry and engineers and those from the environmental lobby such as Friends of the Earth.
Indeed, it was interesting to see their use of terminology with the waste industry and engineering delegates talking of EfW and CHP and the environmentalists of incineration.
My view is that EfW and CHP has a place in a well structured hierarchy of waste with the usual re-use and recycle etc coming first. Terms such as incineration do an injustice to efficient modern plants as it gives the impression of burning waste with a stack belching out untreated pollutants. Maybe that is why the enviornmental lobby are so keen to use the word incineration.
Paul Sanderson, editor, MRW and www.mrw.co.uk
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Doing it for the kids
I was intrigued by a story I saw this week in the Daily Mail about a rural shopkeeper who writes the names of her customers on the packaging of snacks they buy.
According to the Mail, postmistress Yvonne Froud marks each wrapper with the name of the buyer in black permanent marker pen. Then any customer whose name turns up on a piece of rubbish found in the street is temporarily banned from the shop. The idea is that they take responsibility for that waste and put it in the bin.
Froud, who runs the post office in Joys Green in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, explains that her system works because the rural community is so small. She says she knows the name of every local resident and so cannot be fooled by customers using aliases.
But reading on it becomes apparent that, the woman “on a crusade”, is only applying this system to young people. Surely this is age discrimination. Does this postmistress think only children drop litter? This assumption is something many law abiding children would hotly deny. But of course when you are taking a stand it’s easy to start with those already demonised by some sections of the press and least likely to complain.
Read the full article at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1163132/Shopkeeper-writes-customers-names-sweet-wrappers-drink-cans--stop-dropping-litter.html
Claire Churchard, senior reporter, MRW
According to the Mail, postmistress Yvonne Froud marks each wrapper with the name of the buyer in black permanent marker pen. Then any customer whose name turns up on a piece of rubbish found in the street is temporarily banned from the shop. The idea is that they take responsibility for that waste and put it in the bin.
Froud, who runs the post office in Joys Green in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, explains that her system works because the rural community is so small. She says she knows the name of every local resident and so cannot be fooled by customers using aliases.
But reading on it becomes apparent that, the woman “on a crusade”, is only applying this system to young people. Surely this is age discrimination. Does this postmistress think only children drop litter? This assumption is something many law abiding children would hotly deny. But of course when you are taking a stand it’s easy to start with those already demonised by some sections of the press and least likely to complain.
Read the full article at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1163132/Shopkeeper-writes-customers-names-sweet-wrappers-drink-cans--stop-dropping-litter.html
Claire Churchard, senior reporter, MRW
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Designing out construction waste
I managed to pop along to the Construction Waste Summit yesterday which was attended by representatives from various parts of the construction supply chain. It was interesting to hear their thoughts and concerns on construction waste - and whether the ultimate 'zero waste to landfill' was something that was achievable. (A quick straw poll found that about half of those who attended thought this 'zero waste' goal was achievable and the other half didn't...)
Those who attended seem to think that more collaboration along the supply chain and more awareness among designers about waste would help reduce the amount and impact of construction waste.
A speaker from BDP offered the designer's perspective and made a good point that most waste legislation is aimed at the end-of-life stage and contractors - meaning designers are effectively removed from having to think about waste. In addition, she suggested a lot of designers were not aware of the 'zero waste' concept and the waste hierarchy - something that those further down the waste chain perhaps assume others are aware of.
It raised the question of whether we need to incentivise or put in place regulations to force designers and those at the start of the construction process to think about the impact of their work at the end of the chain?
Andrea Height, MRW, deputy editor
Those who attended seem to think that more collaboration along the supply chain and more awareness among designers about waste would help reduce the amount and impact of construction waste.
A speaker from BDP offered the designer's perspective and made a good point that most waste legislation is aimed at the end-of-life stage and contractors - meaning designers are effectively removed from having to think about waste. In addition, she suggested a lot of designers were not aware of the 'zero waste' concept and the waste hierarchy - something that those further down the waste chain perhaps assume others are aware of.
It raised the question of whether we need to incentivise or put in place regulations to force designers and those at the start of the construction process to think about the impact of their work at the end of the chain?
Andrea Height, MRW, deputy editor
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