UK - big brands sign up to waste reduction pledges

A number of the UK's best-known businesses yesterday stepped up their commitment to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, signing up to two schemes designed to cut waste levels and increase UK recycling rates. The Guardian reports that Associated British Foods, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kraft Foods, Premier Foods and Procter & Gamble joined the latest group of retail firms to sign up to the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment, a voluntary scheme run by the government that sees firms commit to meeting a series of waste-reduction targets.

Under the terms of the voluntary agreements signed between the companies and the government-backed Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP), firms agree that by 2012 they will have reduced the carbon impact of packaging 10%, cut household food and drink waste 4%, and cut packaging waste from the grocery supply chain 5%. The latest signatories join a host of high-profile firms in signing up to the current phase of the Courtauld Agreement, including Asda, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Tesco.Meanwhile, WRAP announced that two of the UK's largest construction firms - Barratt Developments and Hanson UK - have signed up to the Halving Waste to Landfill initiative, which has seen 540 firms commit to cutting the amount of waste levels by 50%.

"One of the biggest challenges society faces over the next decade is reducing the environmental impact of the things we buy and build," said Liz Goodwin, chief executive of WRAP. "These responsibility deals bring about changes that deliver both commercial and environment benefits." "Building a sustainable business is not only about protecting the environment. With it comes a leaner, more efficient business that strips out waste and saves money. The voluntary approach allows industry sectors to move as one and deliver change without government intervention." The news came as reports emerged yesterday that councils are considering limiting the number of black bags that households receive each year, and charging people extra if they exceed their waste allowance.

Technorati Tags: Courtauld Commitment waste minimisation waste prevention businesses WRAP

North London - European Waste Reduction Week

The European Week for Waste Reduction started and finished in 20 - 28 November. Their aim was to inspire residents and show how by making simple changes in everyday life can significantly reduce the amount of waste thrown away. They had a series of activities lined up during the week across north London for you to take part in including:

• Creative cooking with leftovers


• 'Sew good' workshop


• Love Food Hate Waste Roadshows


• Collaboration for Growth event


• Hackney plastic bag amnesty


• Nappuccino's at Hackney City Farm


• Camden Give & Take events

It's the third year in a row they got involved in the European Week for Waste Reduction, run as part of the European Commission's LIFE+ Programme. Last year residents in North London contributed to the 2,672 actions that were implemented in 14 European countries. Secondary school children in the seven NLWA boroughs contributed to last year's activities. More than 100 pupils took part in the Waste: The Bigger Picture poster competition which ran from 13 September to 15 October.

The competition helped to raise awareness of waste prevention among young people. The message was spread even more widely with the winning design from each borough being used as the basis for seven eye catching and informative posters, being displayed on buses across north London from 15 to 28 November. Congratulations to the winners.

Hackney - Rivka, Year 9, Stoke Newington School

Text from North London Waste Authority's page

Inter- Waste Prevention Word Cloud

World Cloud done with http://www.wordle.net/create

UK - Green Patriot Posters

Check out The Green Patriot Posters website which has a new book of 50 detachable, read-to-hang posters on the theme of sustainability by some of the world's most prominent graphic designers and artists

London: Take the Zero Waste Challenge

Hackney Council's recycling team in London have released a new Zero Waste Challenge pack that aims to challenge residents to reduce and reuse their waste as much as possible over a seven day period. They can download the Challenger's Pack (PDF, 2.7MB) and pick a week to measure how much normal waste they produce the week before the zero waste week. Then record the amount of waste thrown out during the actual challenge week and send results to them at recycling@hackney.gov.uk

Click to enlarge and read the comments from previous challengers!

Technorati Tags: Hackney waste minimisation waste prevention zero waste waste reduction