WRAP has done a report into the food waste reduction programme in West London. The results a substantial reduction in food waste, saving consumers on their purchases, but also the authority in the cost of disposal.
West London Waste Authority (WLWA) can came to have taken the lead in waste reduction policy, as you can see from WRAP's detailed case study.
One paradox of this kind of work is that it may actually reduce the proportion of waste recycled. At least in principle, almost all food waste should be recyclable. In practice, a lot of it gets chucked into landfill. However, programmes like this are designed not to produce the waste in the first place. That is good in terms of the waste hierarchy, but reduces the headline recycling percentage. the political debate over the past few years has tended to concentrate on the recycling percentage. Indeed I have been one of the most vociferous in pointing out the enormous increase in Brent's recycling.
As attention shifts to more reduction, that emphasis will have to change _ perhaps to a landfill diversion target.
No comments:
Post a Comment