Herefordshire residents urged to have say on waste management
http://www.dailyfix.co.uk/articles/81049/1/Herefordshire-residents-urged-to-have-say-on-waste-management/Page1.html
By Chief Editor
Published on 21 Apr 2009
Herefordshire Council is looking to hear from residents about future plans for waste management in the county and neighbouring Worcestershire.
The Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Herefordshire and Worcestershire sets out how household and some commercial waste is managed by councils in the two counties.
Originally put together in 2004, the strategy covers the period up to 2034 and it is currently under review with a number of important changes being proposed.
Views of residents are being sought on the proposed changes to ensure that the final strategy reflects the needs and opinions of local people.
Although there has been a marked reduction in the amount of waste produced and an increase in recycling rates, there has been a shift in national government approach to waste management.
There is now much more emphasis on reducing the effect waste management has on climate change. As a result the government has introduced tougher financial penalties to all council’s who exceed set landfill allowances.
Landfill is a major producer of methane gas, a greenhouse gas linked to harmful climate change. In order to avoid these fines, the strategy now includes consideration of how to use waste as a valuable resource and how to reach recycling rates of 45 per cent by 2015.
Resident views and feedback will play a large role in the review.
Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment and Strategic Housing said: “We need to start looking at waste as a potential resource as we simply cannot continue to fill up landfill sites.
“Although we already boast a number of fantastic recycling initiatives across the two counties, we need to be even more creative in how we deal with waste. It is important that residents have the opportunity to share their views as this important issue needs to be addressed collectively by the community and I would urge everyone to make sure they have their say,” he added.
The feedback from the resident consultation and engagement will be used to inform proposed solutions for long-term sustainable waste management.
Further information on the waste strategy consultation is available from the council’s website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/wastestrategy. A short questionnaire is available for residents to give us their views on this important document. You can fill the questionnaire out online. The deadline for responses is 15th May 2009.
For further information or to request a questionnaire to be sent to you contact Herefordshire Council on 01432 260051.
The Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Herefordshire and Worcestershire sets out how household and some commercial waste is managed by councils in the two counties.
Originally put together in 2004, the strategy covers the period up to 2034 and it is currently under review with a number of important changes being proposed.
Views of residents are being sought on the proposed changes to ensure that the final strategy reflects the needs and opinions of local people.
Although there has been a marked reduction in the amount of waste produced and an increase in recycling rates, there has been a shift in national government approach to waste management.
There is now much more emphasis on reducing the effect waste management has on climate change. As a result the government has introduced tougher financial penalties to all council’s who exceed set landfill allowances.
Landfill is a major producer of methane gas, a greenhouse gas linked to harmful climate change. In order to avoid these fines, the strategy now includes consideration of how to use waste as a valuable resource and how to reach recycling rates of 45 per cent by 2015.
Resident views and feedback will play a large role in the review.
Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment and Strategic Housing said: “We need to start looking at waste as a potential resource as we simply cannot continue to fill up landfill sites.
“Although we already boast a number of fantastic recycling initiatives across the two counties, we need to be even more creative in how we deal with waste. It is important that residents have the opportunity to share their views as this important issue needs to be addressed collectively by the community and I would urge everyone to make sure they have their say,” he added.
The feedback from the resident consultation and engagement will be used to inform proposed solutions for long-term sustainable waste management.
Further information on the waste strategy consultation is available from the council’s website www.herefordshire.gov.uk/wastestrategy. A short questionnaire is available for residents to give us their views on this important document. You can fill the questionnaire out online. The deadline for responses is 15th May 2009.
For further information or to request a questionnaire to be sent to you contact Herefordshire Council on 01432 260051.