Events > The Future of Local Environment Policy: Working Towards a ‘Zero Waste’ Economy

Event Details

Title:

The Future of Local Environment Policy: Working Towards a ‘Zero Waste’ Economy

Date:

Wednesday 14th July 2010

Time:

10.15am – 4.30pm

Venue:

Guoman Charing Cross Hotel, London

“ We will work towards a ‘zero waste’ economy, encourage councils to pay people to recycle, and work to reduce littering.”

— The Coalition: our programme for government, May 2010

“ Windsor and Maidenhead Council have got it right by rewarding people for voluntarily doing the right thing, not penalising them for doing the wrong thing – that is how we can change behaviour, improve the environment and get people to play their part in a Big Society.”
— Environment Secretary, June 2010

Overview

In 2007, with climate change rapidly rising to the top of the political agenda, the previous Government updated the Waste Strategy (2000), placing far greater emphasis on waste prevention, waste re-use and recycling. Although considerable progress has been made since 2007 to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, Britain continues to lag behind its European neighbours.

Critical of the limited vision behind the waste strategies, the new coalition Government has stressed its commitment to achieving a ‘zero waste’ economy by 2020. Championing ‘Big Society’, the new Administration has sought to encourage a holistic and sustainable approach to waste prevention, promoting individual responsibility, encouraging partnership working across all sectors and utilising the potential of the third sector. Policies will include adopting the successfully piloted ‘Recycle Reward’ scheme to incentivise household recycling, working to reduce littering, introducing a ‘Responsibility Deal’ on waste with producers and putting a floor under landfill tax until 2020 in order to encourage investment into new and innovative forms of waste disposal.

As the new Administration sets out its roadmap for change, this special symposium offers a timely opportunity for local authorities, waste management and recycling stakeholders to consider the next steps in working towards a ‘zero waste’ economy. Delegates will:

Examine how to remove barriers to recycling and strengthen incentives to reduce waste

Discuss how best to tackle littering and illegal waste activity

Consider how to engage and energise the public, increasing awareness of waste prevention

Explore how to minimise food waste, encouraging behavioural change through education

Delegates will have the opportunity to debate, share good practice and network with colleagues across the local authority, environmental health/enforcement and government landscape.

Programme

09:30

Registration and Morning Refreshments

10:15

Chair’s Welcome and Introduction

10:30

Panel Session One:
Developing the Blueprint for a Cleaner Future: The Next Steps

Targeting Zero Waste – Progress Made, Challenges Ahead
Prioritising Incentives to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle Waste for Business and Household Consumption
Removing Barriers - Providing Coordinated, Convenient, Consistent and Cost-Effective Recycling Services Across Every Community
Tackling Fly-Tipping and Litter - Preventing Illegal Waste Activity through Better Prevention and Enforcement

Martin Brocklehurst, Head of Environment and Business Partnerships, Environment Agency (confirmed)
Veronica Sharpe, Advisor, Sustainable Behaviours Unit, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (confirmed)

11:15

Morning Coffee Break

11:30

Open Floor Discussion & Debate with Panel One

12:30

Networking Lunch

13:30

Panel Session Two:
From National Vision to Local Reality: Sharing Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Recycling and Waste Prevention

Engaging the Public and Encouraging Individual Responsibility
Extending Effective Partnership Working Between the Public, Private and Third Sector
Food Waste – Promoting Behavioural Change in Consumers through Improved Awareness and Understanding
Sharing Best Practice – Learning from the Pilots

Mal Williams, Senior Advisor, Campaign for Real Recycling (confirmed)
Medhi Salam, Director, Recyclebank (confirmed)
Jonathan Essex, Reclaim Materials Director, Bioregional (confirmed)