Although local authorities are in the best position to plan and co-ordinate local recycling initiatives, local community groups can play an important role. The most successful recycling projects are those which are community-based, and able to develop participation through local initiative and employment. Community groups are well placed to run schemes through local schools, businesses, community centres and allotment sites. The Government target is for 40% of household waste to be recycled by the year 2005. The 1996 rate was only 6.5%. All local authorities in the UK responsible for waste collection are required to produce a recycling plan for their area.
The landfill tax introduced in 1996 put a charge of £7/tonne (now £86.10/tonne, April 2017) on most household waste that is landfilled, which makes alternative methods, including recycling and composting, more attractive. The landfill tax is on top of any increases in charges for landfill as capacity runs out in some parts of the country. The value of ‘recycling credits’ rises as the cost of landfill increases. Recycling credits are payments which local authorities are allowed to make to projects that usefully reprocess household waste that would otherwise have to be collected and disposed of by the local authority. The scheme is optional, and not all local authorities will choose to take part.
Waste Watch is the national agency for community recycling, reduction and re-use schemes. They can give advice, local contacts, support for new projects and advice on funding. The Community Recycling Network is a network of local schemes who can give support and advice. Initially, contact your local authority department responsible for recycling. Products suitable for recycling include paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, textiles, cans and other scrap metal.
Re-use of materials and products involves repair and renovation to allow items to be re-used. This not only saves resources, but provides opportunities for training and community enterprise. Tools, bicycles, furniture, white goods, computers, office equipment and buildings are some of the products which now have re-use schemes.
Composting kitchen, garden and other ‘green’ waste has many advantages. It reduces the amount of landfill space required for tipping, and in many cases the compost can be made and used on the same site, so reducing transport requirements. Home-made compost reduces the demand for peat, so helping to protect peat bogs. Compost heaps themselves are excellent habitats for hibernating amphibians, reptiles and other organisms. Shredding and composting of prunings and other woody material removes the need for bonfires, so reducing the production of smoke and greenhouse gases.
Kitchen waste can be safely composted in a wormery, to eliminate problems with rats. Some local councils run schemes to provide householders with wormeries and compost bins free or at reduced prices. Compost bins can be easily made out of scrap wood, mesh, plastics and other materials. For larger volumes of woody material produced from woodland management, hedgelaying and other projects, a chipper is a worthwhile investment. The woodchips can be used for path surfacing, play areas, mulch and compost. Some local authorities operate green composting facilities, where garden prunings and other green waste can be taken for chipping and composting, with the resulting compost on sale at a low price.
Information on community composting schemes and garden composting is available from the Wildlife Trusts, the Henry Doubleday Research Association and the Community Composting network.
