Harriet Lamb’s Post

In 1999, when the Welsh Assembly was established under UK devolution, Wales' recycling rate was just 3.5%. Thanks to relentless efforts by concerned citizens, community groups and visionary social enterprises, a programme of experimental collection systems was developed and run over several years. Thanks to enthusiastic support from some enlightened politicians and civil servants, the evidence base generated provided the basis for the Wales Recycling Blueprint. As a result of this and consistent political support, Wales is now No2 in the world for recycling with over 65% of MSW recycled, composted or treated by AD. Cultural behaviour change on this scale - even against entrenched opposition from vested interests and a frequently sceptical media, can be achieved in one generation. It requires a willingness to share research and experience, to learn from failure and not play 'shoot the messenger', to build awareness and participation from the ground up, with consistent support. We can do the same with the development of a circular, Carbon based economy. #Biochar #CircularEconomy

Important focus now: recycling infrastructure and exports. End destinations of recyclates are VERY important for the packaging value chain, AND for the PUBLIC on recyclates ACTUALLY being recycled. Great panel presentations & discussion now led by Steve Morgan of RECOUP with Denise Mathieson FIMMM of Waitrose & Partners, Mat Crocker of Environmental Services Association, Xavier Lhoir of Valipac, Tom McBeth was of RECOUP now residing at LARAC, and Mike Jefferson of EPRO. Shocking that a figure of 18% of UK waste tonnages may be mismanaged including illegally & deliberately in case of organised crime. End destinations of wastes & recyclates need much greater airtime, discussion and collaboration across the whole value chain, for sure & certain. Are we all up for that? INCPEN is! Packaging News #EnviropackSummit2024

A panel seeking to provoke discussion & collaborative solutions. Led by Jude Allan and Corin Williams with Denise Mathieson FIMMM at Waitrose & Partners, Paula Chin at WWF and INCPEN's very own Paldeep Bhatti 'Discussing what?' you ask? 'Labelling for Recycling: Simplicity amongst Complexity'. Corin asked Paldeep to go into INCPEN's Citizens Surveys that asked about public support for consistent recycling ♻️ labelling across the whole of the UK: 82% of citizens said they support it! BIG POSITIVE FIGURE! Paldeep also outlined citizens' confidence about recyclates ACTUALLY getting recycled, as well as citizens' ratings of recycling services. Heads-up: more INCPEN Citizens' Surveys to come in 2024 with some very insightful questions being asked immediately after the UK General Election. Watch this space ... 🙂 Packaging News #Enviropacksummit2024

🐑🔋🌟 The Baa-ttery Campaign Shortlisted for Global Good Awards! 🌟🐑🔋 We’re thrilled to announce that The Baa-ttery Campaign, a collaborative initiative with Renewi and Valpak Limited, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Global Good Award in the Behaviour Change Campaign category! 🏆 🌍 About the Campaign: A staggering 3.2 million batteries are discarded in the county’s waste each year, equal to the weight of over 3650 Herdwick sheep! 😲 Batteries should never be disposed of in regular waste or recycling bins due to the risk of explosion or ignition, which can lead to fires and serious safety hazards. A battery recycling campaign with a difference has been launched in Cumbria at Renewi’s Hespin Woods site to encourage more battery recycling, featuring a sheep as its mascot! 🐑 With support from Cumberland Council, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Plus3K, and Renewi 🌍 Why This Matters: 🍃 Environmental Impact: Improper battery disposal can harm our environment. The Baa-ttery Campaign raises awareness about the importance of responsible recycling to prevent pollution and protect our natural habitats. ✅♻️Community Engagement: Through creative and engaging strategies, we’ve successfully mobilised the community to adopt sustainable habits and take action. 📈 Innovation and Collaboration: This initiative highlights the power of partnership between Valpak and Renewi, combining expertise and resources to drive meaningful change. Together, we can make a difference! 🌟 Read more here: https://okt.to/AueQ7Z #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Recycling #BatteryRecycling #ThinkCircular #Reconomy

“We want to do right by the country and by people. So having a standard is extremely important. For us, one of the main advantages of using a standard is that we can educate ourselves on what's acceptable and what's not.”  HOPE: Business for Good Managing Director Ilusion Farias joined us for a World Environment Day panel to mark the launch of Version 8 of our Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard (PPRS). HOPE, which runs the Aling Tindera waste-to-cash program, noted how the adoption of PPRS has changed the way projects and partners work together.  “I've seen the change in the Philippines in the language. We're now all speaking a similar language, which wasn't the case four or five years ago — everybody was referring to things in different ways. And it became hard to understand, “Is this what you mean by process?” “Is this what you mean by additionality?” Now it's really easy to refer to this standard and have a set definition that can be used.” To watch the video of the PPRS V8 launch, click here https://lnkd.in/gb4pjcxe PPRS Version 8 is now available on www.pcxsolutions.org/pprs. For opportunities for collaboration, please reach out to us at info@pcxsolutions.org. #PPRS #PlasticPollution #Sustainability #PlasticCredits Nanette Medved-Po Stefanie Beitien Athalie Reyes Jessa Mae Mangyao Kath Fruelda Ralph Cuazon Andrea Onglao Loh Yun

Wales has been named the second best country in the world for recycling and is within touching distance of the top spot, new analysis shows. Wales is listed just behind Austria in the global rankings, with both countries managing to recycle 59% of their waste. Northern Ireland is ranked ninth, England 11th and Scotland 15th among the 48 countries included in the comparison. Wales has put a particular focus on improving recycling rates in recent decades - with statutory targets for local councils and all homes asked to separate out their food waste among a number of initiatives. Some councils have moved to only picking up general waste at the kerbside once a month, with Denbighshire being the latest - introducing four weekly collections for black bags in June. The Welsh government puts the average recycling rate in Wales at 66%, external - this is based on municipal waste collected by local authorities from households and some businesses. It varies from 59% in Torfaen to 72% in Pembrokeshire and Swansea. To compile a global league table, researchers used a country's reported recycling rate and other waste data to try and rank different nations' efforts on a like-for-like basis. The report, by Eunomia Research and Consulting and Reloop, examined the performance of 48 countries, including the world's largest economies. Taiwan, Germany, Belgium came 3rd, 4th, 5th. #recycle #environment #sustainability #climatechange #reduce #education #reuse #nature https://lnkd.in/dGd2QGBr

I had the pleasure of giving evidence this morning to the Senedd #ClimateChange, #Environment, and #Infrastructure Committee alongside Clarissa Morawski Jemma Bere and Gwen Frost. The focus was on delivery of the Welsh Government #circulareconomy strategy, #BeyondRecycling. My key takeaways from the first session of the day are: Beyond Recycling sets an ambitious but achievable long term strategy for Wales that gives clear direction and confidence to those in the circular economy. The Workplace Recycling Regulations can cement the position of Wales as the second highest recycling nation in the world. WRAP are proud to have worked with the majority of local authorities across Wales to support efforts to make recycling easier, and also to have supported businesses through https://lnkd.in/eA3uaYKf The increase in household #foodwaste in Wales during 21/22 makes the 2025 food waste target more challenging to achieve. With targets in 2025 and 2030, further action will be required. #Bemighty, Wales' largest recycling campaign, has shown that regular bursts of activity can increase engagement and take up of key messages, and that it is possible to combine messages on food waste prevention and recycling. Developing skills and confidence in #repair will be key to further growth in the circular economy in Wales, and that these need to be accessible across society. Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament

I really enjoyed the invitation to join this great panel to discuss how the UK can lead the recycling revolution. Since the last DRS consultation in the UK, countries like Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands* and Turkey all launched their DRS, and they will be followed by Austria, Poland and Portugal before we have ours (Oct 2027). Enough of constant delays, false promises and piecemeal approach. The new government has a lot to deliver when it comes to packaging and recycling, and as they rightly said, "there is no time to waste" but there is also no time for "lowest common denominator" policies. #DRS #EPR #Recycling #CircularEconomy *NL expanded the scope of their DRS to include cans

🤝 Last week, LARAC Chair Cathy Cook met with Recycling Minister Robbie Moore to discuss the recent WEEE Consultation. They focused on Household Collections, Enforcement, and challenges in Recycling. Cathy stressed considering the entire value chain to avoid unintended consequences. Key concerns raised included fires caused by batteries and challenges in the delivery timeline for WEEE reforms. Cathy invited Minister Moore for further discussions with LARAC and to our UK Conference in October. ♻️💚 #WEEEConsultation #RecyclingTalks #Sustainability

Navigating New Recycling Policies: A Breath of Relief for Welsh Businesses 🍃💼 A formidable step from the Welsh Government shines a ray of hope for local businesses wrestling with the complexities of new recycling regulations. The recent announcement of a grace period up to April 2025 offers a crucial lifeline, allowing enterprises to adapt without the looming threat of fines or prosecution that was causing many sleepless nights. For small businesses in particular, this reprieve means valuable time to source reliable waste operators amidst an already challenging economic landscape. I applaud the sensitivity and support demonstrated in recognising the pressures these businesses face. This isn't just about facilitating compliance; it's about fostering a constructive environment where businesses can truly thrive whilst contributing to Wales's green aspirations. As we move forward, it's vital to utilise this period effectively. Businesses should seek to fully understand the requirements, and proactively engage with resources made available by the likes of Natural Resource Wales. The emphasis on advice and guidance before enforcement is a commendable approach to regulation, balancing the need for progress with the practicalities of day-to-day operations. Let's also not forget the opportunity to network and gain insights at the upcoming LARAC Wales Conference in Cardiff. It's events like these where collaboration and knowledge sharing can translate into innovative solutions for recycling and waste management challenges. Together, we can tread a path of sustainable growth that honours both our environmental responsibilities and commercial ambitions. Welsh businesses, you're not alone on this journey—the support is there, and your adaptability and resilience are the keys to unlocking a greener, more prosperous future. #SustainableWales #BusinessSupport #RecyclingRegulations🏴