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| Link to 'Friends of the Earth' |
Join Friends of the Earth's campaign for a goal to:
'halve household black-bag waste
by 2020'.
by 2020'.
2011-04-16
Friends of the Earth: "Talking half as much rubbish"
Join Friends of the Earth's campaign for a goal to:
2011-04-15
To paraphrase Monty Python, ...
Do you want the thirty seconds of Filthy London...
Or the full one hour?
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| (Click above for BBC web site) |
2011-04-14
10.30am, Saturday 16 April (free) seminar: Avoid the NEED for Incinerators - 'Moving towards Zero Waste'!
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| Click above to enlarge (map) |
"The 'Zero Waste Alliance UK' aims to protect, preserve, and improve the environment, for the benefit of the public, by the development, provision, and promotion of sustainable waste management practices. It also seeks to educate the public in all matters relating to this.
"Sustainable waste management practices include:
- waste minimisation,
- minimisation of pollution and harm from waste,
- reuse of waste, recycling of waste,
- waste recovery activities, and
- recovery of pollutants from contaminated land,
"We seek a better environment by encouraging a cleaner and healthier way of dealing with waste issues."
2011-04-09
2011-04-03
'The Independent': "The threat to wildlife from debris floating in our seas"
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| Link to 'The Independent' |
"Humans currently produce 260 million tons of plastic a year. When pulled into the sea's currents, plastics do not biodegrade, but are broken into smaller pieces which are consumed by marine life."
"The biggest rubbish 'swill' is the North Pacific Gyre, the 'great garbage patch' the size of Texas, and containing an estimated 3.5 million items of detritus, ranging from toys to toothbrushes."
'Sustainable Cities': "Copenhagen is no longer using landfills as a general solution to its waste problem"
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| Link to web site |
"Waste is better utilised through incineration than through landfills, but recycling is an even better option.
"Of course, the best option is prevention of waste production altogether, which often requires direct reuse. The less waste, the better – it’s as simple as that."
- 'Copenhagen Waste Solution', City of Copenhagen (2008)
[We say: Incineration is a waste of resources, especially of plastics, and stops higher recycling rates - do not choose to build incinerators!]
2011-03-31
Er, are we being stitched up, after all?
This email today suggests that SITES are rather more important than POLICIES...
Thank you for taking the time to write to us with your views on the West London Waste Plan. We will consider all the views submitted, during the preparation of the next stage of the Plan. A report on all the consultation responses received will be prepared by CAG Consultants, and will be available towards the end of May or during June. This document will be available online at www.wlwp.net and on request from your local borough Council.
The next stage is to agree a final version of the Plan, which will include a revised list of sites, taking account of all the consultation comments. It is intended to publish this later this year, at which time you will be contacted, and given a further opportunity to comment. Please check the website for regular updates on the Plan's development.
Kind regards,Rachel Crozier
Associate, CAG Consultants81 Bradley CrescentBristol, BS11 9SRFreephone: 0800 389 4276
2011-03-28
'Zero Waste' in Scotland - can west London do any better?
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| Link to Scottish Government web site |
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| Link to summary of plan |
- the re-use of products,
- the extension of the life-span of products,
- reductions in packaging etc;
- the adverse impacts of waste on the environment and human health; and
- the content of harmful substances in materials and products."
Below is from the Q&A page. The whole strategy seems to effectively reduce current incineration, reduce 'Energy-from-Waste' except gas from organics, and avoid the creation of residual waste incinerator fuel (as proposed for Pinkham Way). It favours waste reduction instead!
Question: "The research on landfill bans identified that out of the residual waste treatment options modelled, Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) with output waste sent to landfill provided the highest net benefit to society. Doesn't this contradict Scottish Government's aspirations to reduce landfill to 5% by 2025?"
Answer: "The landfill bans research does indeed suggest that stabilised MBT outputs sent to landfill perform better in terms of short-term costs to society. However, the 'Zero Waste Plan' takes a wider, long-term view, in order to achieve a fundamental shift in how waste is viewed and managed in Scotland. 'Zero Waste' means making the most efficient use of resources, by minimising Scotland's demand on primary resources, and maximising the reuse, recycling and recovery of resources instead of treating them as waste. Disposing of any materials to landfill is wasteful, and should be avoided wherever possible."
The reality of new-style incinerators in Scotland is maybe given by the UKWIN MAP, and references shown on there.
'Zero Waste Alliance UK': "Conserve and recover resources, and not trash them by burning or burying!"
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| Link to web site |
'Zero Waste Alliance UK' has published its response to DEFRA’s 'Call for Evidence' in relation to the Coalition Government’s Draft Structural Reform Plan.
2011-03-24
Consultation comment from "Wembley Matters" web site
Park Royal: West London's Waste Land
Consultation closes on Friday on the draft Waste London Waste Plan. The consultation has hardly caused a ripple in Brent, with only a handful of members of the public, as distinct from potential contractors, turning up at the consultation at Bridge Park. However the Plan may have big consequences for Brent, with unknown new processes taking place in the borough and a potential increase in heavy lorries transporting waste through the borough from the other boroughs, as you can see from the map above.
Brent already has waste sites at Abbey Road and Veolia's transfer station in Marsh Road, but additional sites are being considered in Park Royal in both the Brent and Ealing sectors. Additional facilities in Marsh Road seemed to be a favoured option, in conversation with officials at the consultation meeting.
The most troubling aspect of the plan is that the choosing of sites has been separated from the processes that will take place on them. The processes will form part of later planning applications, so we are being asked to comment about sites without knowing the repercussions in terms of emissions, health and safety and traffic.
A member of Richmond Green Party comments:
"When I asked the consultants about a missing table, describing possible waste technologies that could be deployed at the sites in question (a lot around Park Royal and none in Richmond, in fact) they repeated the mantra about the consultation being 'technology neutral', and have removed the reference to the table altogether in the online version now.
"But they didn't deny that incineration could be deployed at these sites."In contrast with Brent, there was a well attended meeting in Ealing (Park Royal) where residents were horrified by the concentration of sites in the area. Some residents were already upset about the 'stink' on the border with Hammersmith and Fulham from the Powerday facility.
Consultation ends on Friday March 25th at 5pm.
2011-03-23
Report on a European meeting of NGOs: 'Towards Zero Waste'
On Monday 14 March, more than 30 people from 13 European countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, UK, Czech Republic, Romania, Spain and Hungary – came together for the first time, to define a 'Zero Waste Strategy' for Europe. The event was organised by GAIA and EEB.
2011-03-22
The Independent: "Wasted food equals 3% of greenhouse emissions in UK"
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| Link to The Independent |
"The majority of wasted food is sent to landfills where, as it decomposes it produces methane - a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
"The U.S. EPA also highlights the environmental benefits of recycling food waste as compost including improving soil health and increasing drought resistance."
Daily Telegraph: "A global energy war looms"
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| Link to Telegraph |
Jeremy Warner, assistant editor of The Daily Telegraph, is one of Britain's leading business and economics commentators.
2011-03-20
Sunday Telegraph: "A new exhibition rummages through the binbags of history. Hold your nose, and investigate..."
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| Link to Sunday Telegraph |
"THE HISTORY of cities, this Wellcome show attests, is to a large extent the history of how to deal with dirt. The narrative of the Victorians’ protracted wrangling with the problem – and sewage was only the start: there remained the matter of household rubbish, and the overcrowding of the city’s cemeteries – now amazes by the sheer visibility of filth.
"The dust heaps of Victorian London had at least the advantage of being made up mostly of biodegradable waste, or material that could be relatively easily recycled, such as ash for brick manufacture. Modern detritus is notable for its longevity, hanging around in landfills like a vast archive of our throw-away culture."
2011-03-19
The Guardian; two books: "The Way We'll Live Next" and "The World in 2050"
Aerotropolis: "Lindsay and Kasarda dismiss the idea that air travel should be curtailed, due to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, as fatal for economic growth. Similarly, fears about peak oil are countered by the prospect of synthetic fuels. If the oil really does stop flowing, then they believe electrification of cars will allow reserves to be prioritised for aircraft."
The New North: "In 40 years' time, global warming will have transformed the planet. Despite technological advances and a growing diversity of energy sources, including renewables and nuclear, the world will still rely heavily on fossil fuels. China is currently building two coal-fired power stations a week, 'equivalent to adding the entire UK power grid every year.' Shockingly, coal will become the world's primary energy resource, with demand tripling by 2050."
2011-03-18
'GAIA' worldwide campaign
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| Click for web site |
GAIA is an international alliance that works both against incinerators and for safe, sustainable, and just alternatives.
Our name reflects this dual purpose:
- The Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance: Mobilizing grassroots action against the spread of incinerators and other polluting, end-of-pipe waste technologies.
- The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives: Building the movement for environmental justice, local green economies, and creative zero waste solutions.
GAIA has members in over 20 European countries, who are working to stop the advance of incineration and implement zero waste programmes. Learn more.
Incinerators: Myths vs. Facts
In recent years, the incinerator industry has tried to expand their sector by marketing their facilities as “Waste to Energy” (WTE), using misleading claims of “reducing climate pollution”, and being a “clean energy source”. This document dispels some of the most common myths about incinerators with real facts:
http://www.no-burn.org/downloads/Incinerator_Myths_vs_Facts.pdfNo need for Incineration for West London, if we followed the Germans!
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| Link to The Guardian 'Germany series' |
"Located in the south-western state of Rheinland-Pfalz and set in the heart of Palatinate wine-growing region, the predominantly middle-class, medieval town of Neustadt boasts the best recycling rates in Germany. Over the past 30 years, the town has nurtured and refined a system that means it now recycles about 70% of its waste – 16% higher than the state target. By comparison, UK recycling rates average about 40% – up from just 5% in the mid-1990s.
"At the recycling depot, one of the town's waste managers Stefan Weiss moves on to the subject of enforcement. Or rather, the lack of it.
"In theory, we have the power to fine people if they don't sort their waste. But we never do this because it costs too much to investigate. And we just don't have an issue with flytipping because we make the system so cheap and easy to use. We still get the odd complaint about the move to fortnightly collections, or that our bins are ugly, but that really is about it."
2011-03-17
Reminder of WLWP incinerator proposals
Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon, and/or Hounslow, West London:
Potential 114,000 - 228,000 tpa facility
The West London Waste Plan: Draft Consultation Document (October 2010) indicates:
- two gasification/pyrolysis incinerators as the 'indicative number of facilities required to meet' the apportionments in the 2008 London Plan, and
- one gasification/pyrolysis incinerator as the 'indicative number of facilities required to meet' the apportionments in the 2009 draft Replacement London Plan [Source].
The landtake per facility for gasification/pyrolysis is listed as 2.25ha.
Sites identified as proposed new sites for waste management facilities (not necessarily incineration) that are above 2.25ha:
- Abbey Road, Park Royal (Brent);
- Rail Sidings, Premier Park Road, Park Royal (Brent);
- Hannah Close /Great Central Way, Wembley (Brent);
- Park Royal (Ealing); Atlas Road, Park Royal (Ealing);
- Council Depot, Forward Drive (Harrow);
- Silverdale Road Industrial Area (Hillingdon);
- Yeading Brook, Former Powergen Site, Bulls Bridge (Hillingdon);
- Tavistock Road Coal Depot, West Drayton (Hillingdon);
- Vacant Site Western International Market (Hounslow).
Existing sites listed as having potential for re-development larger than 2.25ha:
- Veolia Transfer Station, Marsh Road, Alperton (Brent);
- Victoria Road Waste Transfer Station (Hillingdon);
- Transport Avenue Waste Transfer Station (Hounslow).
The Independent: "PepsiCo launches green bottle made entirely from grass, bark and corn husks"
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| Link to 'The Independent' |
"PepsiCo announced earlier this week that it had developed the world's first plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based materials - a clear show of one-upmanship to their closest rival."
2011-03-13
Mayor's recently adopted 'Park Royal Planning Framework' - location of several West London Waste Plan proposed sites
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| Link to london.gov.uk |
On 25 January 2011, the Mayor adopted a planning framework for Park Royal, which now sits as supplementary planning guidance to the London Plan. The Mayor said:
"The London Plan identifies Opportunity Areas across the capital, in places with the potential to accommodate substantial numbers of new jobs, homes or both. Park Royal is such an area, with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The area is covered by the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham, and directly abutts the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area."
Telegraph: "The world’s first green subsidy for renewable heating"
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| Link above to Daily Telegraph |
"Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, expected at least 25,000 households to take up the scheme in the first year, with millions of air source heat pumps and other technologies installed over the next 20 years.
"Environmentalists and consumer groups ... wanted to make it easier for consumers to take up the scheme, to encourage more green technologies, rather than incinerating waste or wood, which can cause emissions and discourage recycling."
2011-03-12
LWARB: "£3.7million boost to make it easier for flats’ residents to recycle."
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| Click for press release |
"The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) has announced that 294,000 flats will get improved recycling services, thanks to grants from LWARB totalling £3.7million.
[This is a Phase Two list of borough receiving payouts, now making 26 out of the 32 London boroughs. Hillingdon received an grant in Phase One.]
- Brent – LWARB will support Brent’s aim to service all blocks of flats in the borough with recycling facilities. This will include the introduction of new mixed recycling facilities to over 12,000 properties, and providing almost 30,000 households with reusable bags to carry recycling down to on-site facilities.
- Ealing – Will apply new signage to communal recycling bins servicing 21,000 households. The new signs will be more durable than the existing ones meaning wear and tear along with weather damage will be minimal, allowing residents to clearly see what materials can be recycled and to clearly identify where to put the items.
- Harrow – Will expand their recycling service to remaining flats in the borough that do not currently have onsite recycling facilities. This includes the purchase of new bins to install in convenient locations on estates.
- Hounslow - Will use the funding to expand and improve existing services. These improvements include the installation of recycling bins, development of flats recycling sites for easier access and better signage facilities for residents.
- Richmond – Improvements will be made to 16,500 households, including larger capacity bins, reusable bags distributed to residents and an additional vehicle will be purchased to allow the roll out of a new collection method.
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