The only way it is possible to define the zero waste philosophy is to study the schemes which describe themselves as zero waste projects around the world.

However, let me make it clear, nowhere that I know of does it mean literally “zero waste” to landfill. As I said, this is a term coined by politicians rather than waste management engineers.

The “Zero Waste” or “No Waste” goals in the places which were studied by the Green Alliance in 2006, were found to mean in effect no un-recycled waste, and not much more.

Yes, most are articulated as Zero Waste to landfill, however, none of the places in question at that time seemed to be planning an increase in incineration for example, which would reduce the waste tonnage greatly, and some appear to have ruled it out (Canberra, Kamikatusu, New Zealand, Philippines) citing negative public opinion.

Some of the Zero Waste goals have target dates attached (Kamikatsu, Japan, 2020; New Zealand, 2020; San Francisco 2020). For others, “Zero Waste” provides a notional target with some interim targets (Bath, Philippines).

Canberra’s target of no waste by 2010 is acknowledged to mean in practice 95 per cent diversion from landfill.

Those municipalities espousing zero waste will nevertheless be some of the highest recycling rate achievers, and studies appear to show recycling rates are and will be raised to between 37 per cent and 80 per cent

The experience of a Flanders, France experience was thought in 2006 to indicate that household recycling rates of 60 per cent ought to be obtainable in the UK with the right mix of instruments – although until the new UK government was elected in May 2010, it was expected that local authorities would be allowed to charge householders extra for non-recycled (black bag) waste, as way to achieve these high goals. However, the Conservative/Liberal Coalition has already announced that no such an incentive will be allowed by the new UK Government.

A common feature to many of the Zero Waste targeted schemes is rigorous source separation and collection of recyclables, but so far, in no case, does this appear to be mandatory.

In many places zero waste recycling is driven by pricing of landfill (Bath, Canberra, Flanders, New Zealand) and variable charging of householders (Flanders, San Francisco).

All case studies assume that good markets will exist from now onward for most recyclates, although some will always be awkwardly distant (China and India). So, this raises questions as to whether the goal of zero waste is sustainable, in a market sense, or whether recycling will continue to suffer from the recessionary effect on China’s need for imported secondary materials.

The notions of designing out waste, changing the nature of products and making producers responsible for the consequences of wasteful consumption are still not really on the agenda for zero waste advocates, but shouldn’t they be?

Beyond European or European-style agreements on recycling of packaging and WEEE, there seems little real appetite for imposing more biting producer responsibility. The “Cradle to Cradle” concepts of beneficial products and continual recycling of biological and non-renewable materials are being developed, but are not yet necessarily a part of the Zero Waste philosophy in many places.

The UK is well investing heavily to take a lead on waste prevention with large amounts of landfill tax money being channelled into bodies such as WRAP, Envirowise, BREW, and the Centre for Sustainable Design. Let’s hope they will soon be able to produce some truly ground-breaking ideas and initiatives to actually achieve close to what the public must think the politicians and the waste industry mean by zero waste..

Underpinning the philosophy of zero waste is an aspiration for continuous improvement that goes beyond being compliant with legislation, targets or contracts. While practically delivering zero waste is a significant challenge, the desire to do more and do it better is perhaps the most important lesson we can draw from these case studies.

Zero waste had been portrayed as utopian and undeliverable, yet getting as close to it as possible is worth striving for, and the zero waste concept is already delivering results. Let’s hope the backwash from the press and media, and the public when they realise that most of the landfills will stay open, is not too great.

Visit the web-site: www.green-alliance.org.uk .

Similar intentions have been in place in Scotland for somewhat longer.

The next step will be additional regulations to limit the use of landfill, because the intent is to do much better than current EU wide legislation and targets on waste diversion from landfill.

UK government funded organisation WRAP has funded a newly published report which proposes landfill bans for England and Wales, and UK organisations and residents are being given the opportunity to comment on these ideas right now.

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. In their own words; they work with businesses and individuals to help them reap the benefits of reducing waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way.

They certainly believe that by limiting or stopping various materials being sent to landfill there would be a net positive effect of these so called “landfill bans” both in the short term to our economy, but also, and in the end more importantly reducing emissions and making our world much more sustainable.

The Waster wonders about the possible negative effects on industry of landfill bans if the way that businesses can use materials becomes much much heavily restricted by the methods allowed for its disposal. Clearly, we have already moved a long way down that road, and no new principles would be established by this, but it is a matter of degree, and at some point our entrepreneurial spirit may be badly affected. In other words when does reasonably “a can do” culture turn into “too difficult” for those people and busineses with ideas, the courage and the spirit, to set up new manufacturing endeavours.

It is reported that climate change benefits and resource efficiency gains are likely to be greatest where landfill bans are coupled with a requirement to sort materials;

The report writers have selected the wastes for which these gains seem most likely to be achieved whilst delivering net benefits to society are:

For more information got to; WRAP report Landfill Bans: Feasibility Research

For organisaions and interreested individuals to comment to Defra on the report; Go to Consultation on the introduction of restrictions on the landfilling of certain wastes.

Also – Why not give us your comment, as well?

He used his speech at a summit of Local Authorities and the waste industry.

Hilary Benn expounded that in principle we need to reconsider how we view and treat waste in the United Kingdom. Why do we send valuable items like aluminum and food waste to dump them in landfill when we will be able to turn them into new cans and replaceable energy?

Why use more resources than we want to in manufacturing?

The idea is that we must now work in partnership to build a zero waste nation – where we scale back the resources we use, reuse and recycle all that we can and only send to the rubbish heap the things that have no other use for.

“To do this every one of us – state, local authorities, firms and patrons – must do our bit. And we must make this moment the turning point on our journey to eliminate wasteful waste.”

In a morning trip to Earls Court, Mr Benn showed his support for an up to date BSI sustainable event standard which is meant to make sure that the events industry considers the social, business and environmental impacts of their events.

Mr Benn continued : “Using new technologies will help us to re-use things, as an example anaerobic digestion that creates power from food and farm waste. And firms can apply the technology at their fingertips to design inventive products that use less resources or contain recycled materials.

“In a decade’s time seventy five percent of household waste will either be recycled or used for energy, and over time this figure will increase further. Targeting for zero waste is how we have to think to make us where we want to be.”

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Central authority John Denham added :

“If we continue to send reusable or compostable waste to dump we are missing a major chance to generate heat and energy and missing a chance to turn that waste into money.

We will be able to save planet while keeping cash in resident’s pockets.

I have lately set out ambitions for councils to play a larger role in tackling global warming and thinking more creatively about waste is just a method to unlock that potential.

Setting out the way in which the UK can become a zero waste country where people can do the decent thing with their waste whether at work, home or on the go, Mr Benn related :

* Britain should more than halve the amount of waste going to landfills in the following ten years, and in the new year the government may consult on what re-usable and compostable items should be controlled from rubbish heap and how a ban will work.

* In 10 years time seventy five percent of household waste will either be recycled or used for energy, and over time this figure will increase even further.

* 6 new Zero Waste Places in parts of Shropshire, Dorchester, Brixton, Newham, Hoxton and Suffolk will be made to develop cutting edge concepts to cut waste in the home, workplace and community.

* A new Zero Waste Places Standard for Local Authorities will also recognize areas which are going above and beyond national waste targets while supporting them with little grants for further development.

* New research out today shows it is possible to steer 500k tons of household waste every year thru re-using it.

* Later on this month a new public campaign will be launched, directed at inspiring folk to reconsider their approach to waste by reducing and reusing the waste they create as well continuing to reuse as much as they can.

* The govt expects Local Authorities to supply a full collection service for all recyclable items by 2020. This should include paper, card, cans, glass and plastic bottles, food and packing.

We’ll encourage Local Authorities in picking up food waste to employ the technology and funding open to them to manage the power of energy from waste.

* Publication of our aims and actions for Commercial and Commercial Waste in Britain .

This can help enterprises to use resources better and inspire them to consider what they do with their waste as well as delivering advantages for the environment.

Actions cover four areas : helping business ; working with the waste management industry ; plugging the information opening ; and inspiring cutting edge approaches.

The plant in East Kilbride, whose products include Coca-Cola, Fanta, Dr Pepper and Sprite, will improve its recycling facilities and work with an external waste contractor to reach the target.

The announcement comes as new SEPA figures reveal that Scotland has exceeded its European landfill target 18 months early, with 1.29 million tonnes of waste being sent to landfill; the end of 2010 target of 1.32 million tonnes has already been met..

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) made the waste reduction pledge as they opened a new, more efficient production line following an investment of three million pounds by the soft drinks manufacturer.

Opening the new line, which will increase the rate of production by 8,000 bottles an hour, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, said:

“As part of our own plans to make Scotland a greener place, the Scottish Government wants to see everyone – the general public, businesses and the public sector – doing their bit to create a zero waste society.

“The private sector has the potential to make a huge contribution towards zero waste and that is why it is so encouraging to see a global name like Coca-Cola showing real leadership by taking long-term action to eradicate waste.

“Seeing efforts such as this first hand as Scotland exceed the initial landfill target is very encouraging and shows a continued and joined-up commitment to waste reduction. However, our commitment must not end here. We need to stop viewing waste as a problem and start recognising its economic potential.”

Coca-Cola Enterprise’s East Kilbride Operations Director, Jim Duddy said:

“Currently about 93 per cent of the factory waste is recycled and our teams are completely focused on improving our waste avoidance, each day, and at every step in our process”.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, the world’s largest marketer, producer and distributor of the products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC). Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd manufactures and distributes TCCC products, as well as products for other brand-owners, throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and employs around 4,600 people.

The Scottish team has a strong track record of innovation. The East Kilbride factory was the first Coca-Cola factory worldwide to manufacture the 500ml plastic bottle. Today, the ‘washing’ of new empty bottles before they are filled, which has traditionally been done using water, now uses blasts of ionized air, reducing the amount of water used in the production process.

The EU Landfill Directive requires Scotland to reduce to a maximum of 1.32 million tonnes the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by the end of 2010. However, new figures published by SEPA show that target has already been achieved with 1.29 million tonnes being landfilled.

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