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Furness Waste Consortium Position Statement 2004 Members of the Furness Waste
Consortium (FWC) have been discussing the issues of waste management in This is a forum for Industry:
BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Hydrocarbon Resources Ltd, Kimberly Clark, Robert McBride, Roosecote Power Station Local government: Barrow Borough Council, Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council Government agency: Environment Agency NGOs: MAREL, Groundwork In this time we have commissioned and supported many studies, projects and conferences to enable better understanding and further improvement of waste management within Furness. The holistic picture provided
by industry, local government and non governmental organisations (NGOs) has
proven valuable in understanding the total environmental impact of waste in Whilst we appreciate that there are separate, specific requirements of industrial, commercial and municipal wastes, we strongly believe each aspect should cooperate to ensure an effective approach that will allow an integrated strategy to work. Furness in particular is very much an island community with limited waste management resources and a congested infrastructure that needs to be used efficiently. We recognize that solutions to local concerns may have to be resolved by forging links at a regional level. Working within the concepts of the waste hierarchy, best practicable environmental option and the proximity principle we have identified the need for the following: ·
Landfill There will
continue to be the need for local landfill of materials unsuitable for any
other disposal route. The long term planning of such a facility in ·
Waste
to Energy Members are in
broad agreement with the concept of waste to energy. Due to the possible
political and community concerns plus long project lead times any such
project should be outlined as soon as possible. A pilot plant or small
modular operation that is fully accessible to public scrutiny would be
supported by FWC. In the medium to long term we believe that this will be the
best method of reducing the need for landfill. ·
Materials
Recycling Facility Industry has
seen the economic value of reuse and recycling for many years and is
increasingly very good at it. Of the 819,000t industrial/commercial waste
identified (in NW Regional Advisory Body Report 2001), 268,000t was recycled or reused. The more
difficult potential recyclate is that which is difficult to bulk up into
practical quantities. Here a combination of industrial and municipal volumes
would improve viability. A concern of FWC is the likely market flooding with increasingly cheap recycled materials meaning suitable materials still being landfilled. The cooperation with local reprocessors again shows the value of working closely with industry. · Specialist Wastes Collection Facility With the
increasing need for segregation and disposal of specialist and hazardous
wastes, both domestic and industrial, there is a need for dedicated
facilities. Problematic disposal of small quantities generated individually
could be managed safely and effectively from a central location. ·
Awareness and Education This most valuable
aspect of a waste minimisation strategy will require a cultural change from
the whole of society and needs a coordinated approach through schools, the
home and the workplace. Already within industry, work based training is used
to highlight environmental issues and is ideal for promoting any strategy
initiatives. Each of the issues can be addressed in isolation by
industry or local government however we see the need for cooperation to
ensure a joined up, optimum approach.
John Watson Chairman Furness Waste Consortium
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