Waste Strategy

Recycling is often the most heavily promoted and practised waste management option, but you can do more! Whilst recycling should play an important role in managing waste, taking responsibility for our waste involves much more. Ideally the majority of our waste should be reduced, reused or recycled, whilst the least amount will be disposed of. Reducing waste in the first place really is the best option, followed by reuse, and recycling.

The need for change

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is a member of the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership (HWP) with the other Hertfordshire authorities and the County Council. The partnership has developed a Waste Strategy in view of current targets, which outline plans to reduce waste growth and better manage that waste which is produced. 

Landfill has become common practice yet more responsible ways of managing waste are required. Spaces in which to bury waste are becoming scarce and the long-term environmental impacts regarding landfill are well known, such as the seepage of toxic liquids and gas. Also, we are wasting potential resources by burying them in the ground. 

                     
Some principles that guide waste management

The waste hierarchy is a principle that guides waste strategy and proposes that were possible waste should be managed by options at the top of the hierarchy (see below).

Those nearer the top of the list are more environmentally sound practices and should be used where possible, before those at the bottom. The 3 Rs help to conserve raw materials and the energy required to extract them. The principle also helps us to reduce what we dispose of via landfill.

Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) is a tool to aid decision-making relating to the options available in the waste hierarchy. As well as assessing short and long-term environmental impacts, BPEO also considers what would be the most cost effective, efficient and feasible solution. Also relevant is the proximity principle, which states waste should be dealt with as close to the point of production as possible.  

The ongoing development of waste legislation and policy is the most important pressure for a regularly updated waste strategy. The government's updated Waste Strategy (2007) has increased national targets for local authorities regarding the recycling and/or composting of household waste.  

Year	Recycling and/or composting target
2010	40%
2015	45%
2020	50%

There are also environmental and financial pressures on the county council to reduce the amount of biodegradable household waste sent for landfill - strict limits are imposed by the Landfill Regulations, and landfilling beyond these, risk enormous financial penalties.

‘Closing the loop’ 

Finally, ‘closing the loop’ involves consumers purchasing recycled products. This is an important aspect of Waste Awareness because it makes recycling worthwhile. Buying recycled generates a demand for such products, which in turn makes recyclable materials valuable. It increases the need for more materials to be collected and additional capacity for collection and reprocessing.