Household Waste Prevention - Policy Side Research

- Published September 2007.

The Household Waste Prevention - Policy Side Research aims to understand and highlight the potential of policy tools for addressing household waste generation in the UK. 18 months of studies, modlling and stakeholder dialogue have resulted in a number of impact and feasibility studies that can be used by Defra's policy makers.

Research themes

The research was co-ordinated by The Environment Council working in association with a European team of experts headed by Eunomia Research and Consulting.  Drawing from both European examples and feedback from UK stakeholders across the whold spectrum of the household supply chain, the study identifies possible waste prevention policies for the UK and develops a clearer understanding of their likely effects and social implications. The research programme is broken down into the following key stages:

•  An analysis of roles and responsibility in policy making for waste prevention in the UK.
•  A review of current UK policies for waste prevention.
•  A review of waste prevention policies in place elsewhere, specifically in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands; countries often perceived to have better waste prevention mechanisms than the UK.
•  An analysis of the impacts and applicability of a short list of potential policies for waste prevention in the UK, chosen for their relative high potential for impact and political application.

Future UK policy option examined in this research, selected through a comprehensive stakeholder process, were:

  1.   Implementation Plans for Waste Prevention

  2.   Inclusion of Home Composting in LA(T)S

  3.   Waste Prevention Targets and Residual Waste Levy

  4.   Low Waste Schools / Charging for Schools Waste

  5.   Junk Mail Policies

  6.   Mandatory Use of Rechargeable Batteries

  7.   Deepening Producer Responsibility

  8.   Collaborative Procurement

  9.   Minimum Standards for Appliances

 10.   Stimulating Re-use of Durable Goods

 11.   Extended Product Warranties

To download the Summary Report please click here.

The full report can be accessed by clicking on the chapter title from the list below. Alternatively, the full report can be downloaded here.

The toolkit puts into practice the first part of the framework - the Demand Side.  It is an easy-to-apply set of guidelines which brings together the best of good practice gathered from a nationwide study of local community experience.

Local authorities and community organisations will find it a fast track means to planning and implementing a waste prevention programme and a practical guide to carrying out individual waste prevention activities with the consumer.

It gives guidance how to:

- develop and make the business case to win the support of elected

  members and community based organisations
- select, plan and implement waste prevention schemes
- create and run a waste prevention communication campaign and

  change consumer behaviour

COVER

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GUIDELINES

PART_A  A Continuous Waste Prevention Improvement Approach

            Size: 1MB

PART_B  Specific Waste Prevention Activities

            Size: 1.81MB

PART_C   Marketing Behaviour Change

             Size: 2.91MB

Parts A, B and C may take a few minutes to download due to their size. To speed up the process right-click on the link and save to your own drive rather than left-clicking and loading into the web browser.

A UK Framework for WastePrevention Waste conference 2004

Download paper

This paper was presented at the Waste 2004 Conference and outlines the history and progress of the Framework for Waste Prevention. 

Towards a UK framework for Household Waste Prevention - Phase 1 Report September 2003

Download report

The study was carried out jointly by Enviros Consulting Ltd and AEAT Momenta working to the NRWF Waste Prevention Project Steering Group. It examined the key factors that influence the creation and prevention of waste – political, economic, social, technological and environmental. Then, using ‘gap analysis' of existing and potential activities, it has identified measures that need to be taken to improve awareness and create waste prevention incentives for both the supply side (manufacture and retail) and the demand side (consumer and local communities).   These measures have been evaluated according to expected impact, cost, timescales and practicality.  

Make Managing Waste an Open Partnership Februray 2002

Download handbook

This is the first NRWF publication and the handbook seeks to provide practical guidelines for working together to change attitudes and methods.  These guidelines are based on the Public confidence in Waste Management study (see below) and are founded on the opinions and experiences expressed by the public, local authorites and service providers.   

Public confidence in Waste Management; The ESART Project July 2001

Full Report

A comprehensive study was conducted by conducted by ESART (Environmental Services Association Research Trust) of what is required to engage the public.  This study reported on confidence levels in 2001 and identified the main root problems.  

It recommended practical solutions which need to be adopted by the professional waste management services such as public and private sector bodies working in partnership.