Public
Sector Sustainable Development Group Meetings
Date: 9th December 2004 - Meeting
#6
Venue: Lamp Recycling Company,
Aldershot
Theme:
Waste & Recycling
Round the table update focusing on waste and recycling issues
Tony Hubbard – Primary Care Trust:
Tony is putting management systems in place across the 150 Primary
Care Trust sites that he manages.
Waste management is a huge issue, especially clinical waste,
as there are sites all across Hampshire, each with a bin, so
logistically it is difficult to get one contractor to cover all the
sites.
Solutions suggested were to contact ‘Flagship’ who manage
waste, however they themselves do not collect the waste, they are
contractors. If the
Primary Care Trust want to manage the contracts so flagship may not
be any help. Canon
Hygiene is an option as they sometimes collect clinical waste when
they collect sanitary waste. It
was also suggested that TH talk to Brian Cambridge at Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust as he is in
a similar situation.
It was felt that it was unlikely that any waste company was going
to be willing to do both clinical and ‘normal’ waste.
There is very little staff awareness about waste issues, TH
felt that the waste systems needed to be in place first before he
dealt with staff awareness.
Phil Wheaton – Royal Navy:
The Government are agreeing new waste targets for the public sector
to increase the amount of waste recycled and reduce the amount of
waste going to landfill, it is anticipated that these will be agreed
in the next 4-6 months. PW has been involved in ensuring the targets
are ‘sensible’ and achievable, it is anticipated that the
recycling targets will be around 60% and will rise year on year.
Once the targets and waste policy has been approved PW will
be writing a policy for the MoD to aid implementation, waste from
ships is an issue and the majority of waste from sites is green
waste.
The MoD already has an energy and water strategy so waste is a
logical step. Once this
policy has been written all MoD sites will have to implement and
achieve the targets. PW agreed to bring this policy document to the
Public Sector Group Meeting once it has been written. PW
LC to check if this legislation will effect all Public Sectors.
LC
Paul Cook – Royal Navy:
Current recycling rates across the Navy vary considerably at
present, it is often localised with local contracts are in place.
The new targets mentioned above are going to be based on the
best practice found in RNAS Culdrose where recycling rates are at
70%. Once the new
policy is in place the MoD will be promoting Culdrose as best
practice and an example of how to achieve the new targets.
At Culdrose the income generated by the recycling scheme has
created enough funds to employ an additional member of staff who
sorts the waste in an empty hanger on site.
The recycling has reduced the ¾ of a million pound waste
disposal bill by a considerable amount.
However as the commanding officer has the power to
redistribute the funds saved the site has benefited from the scheme.
There is a case study (or further information) on this
project. PC to send LC
a copy of this so that it can go in the HNRI Newsletter.
PCook
Procurement – The Defence Procurement Agency deals with all
procurement issues for the MoD so local sites have very little
choice over the products they purchase, therefore reduction in waste
through waste minimisation is not really possible.
Waste Minimisation – When Phil Cross stared recycling at the
prison they also looked at where their waste came from and solved a
lot of their waste problems at source.
Tony Hubbard also did this but warned that by reducing waste
at source your recycling levels are reduced and you could loose
audit points.
Lucy Martins – Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council:
Lucy is one of two people working at Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council on sustainable
development initiatives. Lucy
looks at project implementation while her colleague does the more
strategic level work. They
have recently implemented recycling initiatives across the council
and there is a lot of work to do in relation to changing people
behaviour patterns. Bin checks have been carried out which raised a
lot of awareness however when they were checked again they were only
25% better. They are
working with recycling champions, all at middle management level,
across the council, however this is at a very early stages so there
has been little progress, it is however an aim to get those at the
top to promote recycling. Phil
Cross recommended getting a five/ten minute slot at all new staff
inductions as this allows you to find people in the organisation who
are interested in helping as well as make sure everyone understands
the recycling and other sustainable development systems in place.
PC offered to show LM around the prison to see how the scheme
was set up there.
PC/LM
It was felt that the recycling scheme set up at Basingstoke
& Dean Borough Council may be the only one like it in a council
office, LC and CW were very interested to know who collects the
waste and how the scheme was set up as it could be replicated in
other councils. LM to
send CW/LC some more information on the scheme, who is collecting
it, how much, what and how often so that LC can promote scheme in
HNRI Newsletter and circulate information to group, a case study
could also be created. LM
is also going to look into where the waste goes to check the chain
does not break down, by finding out what the recyclate is made into
LM should be able to promote recycling further in the council.
LM
Graham Starke - Hampshire Fire & Rescue:
Paper and cardboard is currently going to Marchwood to be shredded
and then sent to a local veterinary centre for animal bedding.
There are 52 fire stations and Graham is trying to
co-ordinate their systems to make them more cost effective.
They have made some positive progress, water and sewerage
rates have been reduced due to the installation of new meters,
unfortunately the savings go back to the corporate level so they
have not been realised for more environmental initiatives.
However corporate incentives have been put in place, if
water, energy and waste is reduced and savings made then they will
receive additional equipment for their gym.
Recycling
initiatives could be set up as a van does go out to each site a
couple of times a week and could collect the recycling and bring it
back to the HQ. Problems
would occur on site as there is little space to store recycling,
Graham is developing a policy for how to implement this.
Wider
waste/fire issues were discussed and links to social problems were
raised and how increased awareness of recycling could help reduce
the number of bin fires. GS to send LC the figures for how many bin
fires there are a month in Hampshire as this could link to wider
HNRI social issues similar to the abandoned vehicles work in Gosport
and Southampton.
GS
Paula Gilfillan - Royal Navy:
A questionnaire was sent to all sites and staff to find out what was
done with waste across the sites, from the results co-ordinated
recycling and waste contracts were set up, this has increased the
amount of recycling collected at a more reasonable cost and reduced
overall waste collection costs.
Sienna also did a waste review and identified where saving
could be made. The Navy
has Environmental Protection Officers who are responsible for
environmental issues and they monitor any problems or issues and
ensure they are getting the best deal from the contractors.
A review of the waste needs to be done and contracts changed
to facilitate this.
Initiatives to create a paperless office are underway and a new
electronic filing system has been developed and new procedures have
been issued to stop people printing large reports and papers.
PG used a consultant to help them save money on their water and
sewerage bills. Meters
can be placed in your incoming and outgoing water pipes which allow
you to monitor exactly the amount of water used over a given period. This then reduces your water bill and often results in a
rebate from the water company.
The consultants PG used were AML Consultants who are based in
Caterham, their number is 01883 330123 and the contact is Martin
Walters.
Brain Cambridge - Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust:
Most of their waste goes to landfill and at present the only
segregation is clinical waste and often this is not segregated and
as clinical waste costs a lot more to dispose of it, is costing
additional money. Brian
is looking to set up recycling systems but needs to discuss this
with the environmental manager who deals with waste, energy, water
etc. however it is not really a focus for the NHS.
Cardboard is currently being recycled through the prison
project but at a cost. Brian
would be interested to know if there is a new directive about waste
in the public sector coming out as it could greatly effect
them.
Phil Cross - HM Prison Service - Winchester:
Has been raising awareness in the prison about sustainable
development and recycling which is going very well and the focus at
the moment is green travel plans.
Phil is working with some good environmental champions at the
prison who are very enthusiastic.
The construction of the recycling centre is due to start in
Jan and should be completed by April, this is a joint scheme with
Winchester Mental Health Alliance for the collection of cardboard,
an existing scheme is already operational in Fareham, Portsmouth and
Gosport. To get involved in this scheme please contact:
Tim Kent of The Winchester Alliance for Mental Health Tel:01962
869211.
Discussion on the future of the group
It would be good to have a wider representation from the public
sector on the group, it was identified that missing sectors were:
army, police, universities and the marine and coastal agency (as
Jane Clark has now left). If
anyone has any contacts within any of these sectors please forward
their details to LC.
Invited Guests – guests are good to keep the bigger picture
focus, the members of the group will also be able to learn from
those outside the public sector.
MF agreed to add the public sector group members to the
Business Environment Forum distribution list.
MF
Sustainable Development Management Chain Diagrams – diagrams
have been produced from the health care trusts, the prison, HNRI,
the marine and coastal agency and the MoD.
Lucy Martins and Graham Starke to produce diagrams and
forward to Phil Wheaton.
LM & GS
Terms of Reference for the Group – these were discussed and
agreed after a few amendments were made, LC to update and circulate
to group.
Themes for future meetings – many issues have been covered by
the group so far it was agreed that some of these can be revisited.
Themes for next year include:
- WEEE and Hazardous waste
- Water
- Energy
- Renewable Energy
- Green Travel Plans
Other themes included, community/social/voluntary sector and
biodiversity and could be considered the following year.
Venues for future meetings - Graham Starke agreed to host
another meeting at the Fire HQ, possibly in connection with the
water/pollution theme with some added fire safety sessions. Phil
Wheaton offered the Naval base towards the end of next year and Phil
Cross said another meeting could be held at the prison. Other venues
included Chineham Energy Recovery Plant in Basingstoke and
Southampton airport.
Date for the next meeting is Thursday 11th March and
the focus will be Utilities (water, gas and electricity). LC to find
guest speakers and a venue.
LC
Presentation by Campbell Williams on Hampshire Natural
Resources Initiative
The Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative (HNRI) aims
to achieve a step change in the way people in Hampshire, the region
and the country perceive and use natural resources. It is about
making a concerted effort to grasp opportunities and overcome
barriers to using natural resources more efficiently and
effectively. HNRI looks
at a wide range of issues, air, biodiversity, climate change,
energy, minerals, soil, water and waste.
At present the focus of the team at Hampshire County Council
is on waste and minerals as a new strategy for material resource use
in Hampshire is being developed and a wide number of stakeholders
are being consulted. CW
to send group some questions relating to HNRI issues and the new
material resources strategy to gain their input into our work.
CW
Sustainable Business Awards
Maggie Francis of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Business
Environment Forum attended the meeting as the group is a sub-group
of the BEF. Maggie
highlighted the up and coming Sustainable Business Awards to the
group and encouraged all those present (and not) to apply under the
public sector category. All members of the group will be sent details once they are
published but if anyone would like any further information please
contact Maggie Francis at bef@chamber.org.uk
Presentation and Tour of Lamp Recycling Company by Norman
Kemp, Managing Director of the Lamp Recycling Company
Norman Kemp from the
Lamp Recycling Company gave a presentation to the group on lamp
recycling and showed those willing around the factory.
Those interested in having their lamps recycled should contact
Norman Kemp on 01252 311007 or by e-mail at lamp.recycling@virgin.net
Recycled lamps can be purchased and are recognisable due to their
green end caps. The
model to ask for is the Philips ‘TL’D Super 80 and the ‘TL’5
– these lamps contain 98% recycled material. On the whole
the slim line (26mm) fluorescent tubes use 8% less electricity and
are cheaper than the older 38mm tubes.
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