Hertfordshire Waste Partnership’s Post

Reviewing ‘Our Commons: Celebrating Commoning and Community Stewardship’, published by FES, this article in India Water Portal by Amita Bhaduri invites readers to explore the vast concept of Commons found in diverse local contexts and through the voices from the ground championing their stewardship. Using maps, stories and evidence-driven insights, It encourages reflection on the various personal relationships we share with common resources. Understanding conflicts around shared resources is key to rethinking their management. This article explores innovative approaches that go beyond legal frameworks to foster cooperation and sustainable management of Commons. Discover how community-based governance of Commons can enable a harmonious future for all here: https://rb.gy/fj4s0z  #PromiseOfCommons #CommonLands #SustainableDevelopment #GenerationRestoration #CollectiveAction #CommunityStewardship #Sustainability #SustainableFuture #CommunityAction #SustainableFutures

Wayshaper Sustainable Homes toolkit. Did you miss our webinar last week? Want to find out more about the toolkit and how it works? Watch back here [login required]. #sustainabledevelopmentgoals

Councils Still View Recycling as Cost Rather than a Profit Centre Yesterday I threw Bucks Council into disarray! In order to avoid debating a cynical amendment to my motion to prevent Buckinghamshire Council's recycling being sent abroad as far away as India I withdrew the motion at the eleventh hour. The Bucks cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change, the person who is supposed to be increasing action on the environment in our county, proposed an amendment to my resolution to prevent recycling being sent abroad which removed any reference to 'recycling' and any reference to 'overseas/abroad'. Worse than that his amendment simply said let’s keep things the way they are now - let’s not even bother looking at how we can improve the situation. Sorry, I hear you say, he took out any reference to the purpose of the motion? How can that be allowed? Actually it is not allowed under our constitution but we do not have a robust system in place that will enforce this in the face of an autocratic council leader. This is also anti innovation, anti-business and anti-jobs in our county and in our country. The materials we need to recycle are a resource, they are a 'raw' material for many processes and opportunities. Trying to ensure this material is kept in Bucks and in UK would mean encouraging innovation in the county, driving new businesses to set up, creating jobs and improving the lives of local residents. Instead of benefitting from this resource we spend residents council tax on sending this raw material overseas! So that is where we were around 5pm yesterday with resolutions proposed by our de-facto Environment and Climate Change Champion (what a joke!) which in fact dumbed down the motion on stopping sending recycling overseas turned it into a back slapping congratulations to the council on its current practices and emphasising that nothing would change. In that situation it seemed wiser and more prudent to withdraw my motion (sparking a flurry of activity – see the webcast in this post) at the end of my speech which publicly highlighted these shortcomings in our local democracy, encouraged councillors to always look for innovative ways to boost business and opportunity in Buckinghamshire and to remind the incumbent councillors that in only a short time, May next year, the public would decide at the polls in the council elections if they still want Bucks ruled like a medieval fiefdom by an autocratic leader. https://lnkd.in/ejHJQVqx The Climate Party #buckinghamshirebusiness #buckinghamshire #hazlemere #Highwycombe #wycombe #BuckinghamshireCouncil #recycling #circulareconomy #Sustainability #bucksbusinessfirst #downley #cressex #waste

So you might have seen this story from last week: https://zurl.co/dhxL It was a bit of a thunderbolt to find out about this in the paper, because although I understood it had been discussed at the Mayoral Forum level, it didn’t get down to us lowly councillors, though I expect that if there is any significant action on this it will ‘eventually’ come to the council table. I had a couple of people talk to me about amalgamation. My view is not that dissimilar to when locals got to give their two cents about a region wide amalgamation several years ago. I know some are “damn the torpedoes!” when it comes to amalgamation and there might be some benefits, but right now I’m not a big fan of it, because I don’t think it solves some important challenges councils are dealing with right now. Let me go into a bit more detail: 1. Does amalgamation mean more investment: No matter how big a council is, we are still stuck under the rules of the government on how we do business, for instance how much we can borrow to spend on infrastructure. A bigger council doesn’t shift that needle any more than not amalgamating. 2. In a similar theme, amalgamation still doesn't fix the problems councils face in gaining revenue beyond what it can do right now: No matter how many more people visit a store in the mall, it doesn’t mean more money in rates, so it's a stacked deck (not in our favour) when it comes to economic benefit investments by councils. 3. Does amalgamation have to be the only way to get economies of scale on providing services: We already for the most part have shared our mahi, for instance on rubbish collection: Hutt City, Wellington and Porirua are working already in concert on organics and C+D waste diversion without having to amalgamate, and our rules on policing trade waste between WCC and PCC are significantly similar. There are plenty of examples where we are already singing from the same song sheet, even if it isn't the same balance sheet. 4. Also, what does amalgamation mean for representation at the big table: I don't think you can say you are for amalgamation if you haven't given clarity on what that will mean for local voices and participation. An amalgamated council isn't suddenly going to mean a significant jump in voter turnout every three years. Maybe it leads to a clear-eyed change in how we reflect and engage with the public (and enhance democracy beyond the elections), but that is only going to happen if the central government permits such a council to do that, and I just don’t see that happening. So yeah, we can always kick the tires, but in the end, there are bigger challenges facing councils who see amalgamation as a salve, and those challenges won't be overcome without the government stepping up.

Municipal Bye Laws for Solid Waste Management are one of the most powerful but most ignored and underutilized legal instruments in our country. Whereas, it could play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable solid waste management provided its provisions are implemented and enforced properly. We wrote on it in Down To Earth (DTE), discussed its definition, genesis, components and efficacy in the Indian SWM ecosystem, the article also discusses our ground level analysis of how it is being (under)used in the current context and the gap between policy and practice...have a look !! Article 1: https://lnkd.in/gV-6P9e2 Article 2: https://lnkd.in/gUzwDeYF #Municipalbyelaws #downtoearth #Urbanlocalbodies #Centreforscienceandenvironment Atin Biswas Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh Kaifee Jawed Minakshi S. Aniket Chandra Tribhwan singh Bisht Shrotik Bose Rahul Khera

New report shines a spotlight on every day council services Today the #CountyCouncilsNetwork (CCN) releases its latest County Spotlight report, which focuses on some of the vital yet unsung services county and unitary councils deliver to their 26million residents. The publication focus on ‘every day’ services – and shines a spotlight on some of the 800 different services that have real and tangible impacts on people’s day-to-day lives. It is an expanded edition of the County Spotlight, and features 26 case studies from the #CCN’s member authorities. The report focuses on varied and vital services across four broad themes: Improving recycling, reducing waste and collecting bins Keeping county residents moving Parks, streetlights, and keeping counties tidy Supporting the next generation of learners Source:- https://lnkd.in/eAwUgwhF #latestnews #latestarticle #trendingnews #trend #topnews #todaysnews

Do you get disrepair complaint after disrepair complaint every winter? ❌ Do you struggle to beat mould in your properties year after year? ❌ Our Breaking The Mould study could be the perfect document to help! In our study with Sustainable Homes, Breaking the Mould investigated the causes of damp and mould from a sample of stock managed by social landlords. It sheds the light on how various contributing factors interact to raise or lower the probability – and severity – of mould occurring. Our study answers a whole host of questions: ✅ - What did we find ✅ - Where does the moisture come from ✅ - What ventilation methods will work for you ✅ - What are the implications for landlords Download the full report today👇 🔗 https://loom.ly/ajuOo4Y

Do you get disrepair complaint after disrepair complaint every winter? ❌ Do you struggle to beat mould in your properties year after year? ❌ Our Breaking The Mould study could be the perfect document to help! In our study with Sustainable Homes, Breaking the Mould investigated the causes of damp and mould from a sample of stock managed by social landlords. It sheds the light on how various contributing factors interact to raise or lower the probability – and severity – of mould occurring. Our study answers a whole host of questions: ✅ - What did we find ✅ - Where does the moisture come from ✅ - What ventilation methods will work for you ✅ - What are the implications for landlords Download the full report today👇 🔗 https://loom.ly/ajuOo4Y

Do you get disrepair complaint after disrepair complaint every winter? ❌ Do you struggle to beat mould in your properties year after year? ❌ Our Breaking The Mould study could be the perfect document to help! In our study with Sustainable Homes, Breaking the Mould investigated the causes of damp and mould from a sample of stock managed by social landlords. It sheds the light on how various contributing factors interact to raise or lower the probability – and severity – of mould occurring. Our study answers a whole host of questions: ✅ - What did we find ✅ - Where does the moisture come from ✅ - What ventilation methods will work for you ✅ - What are the implications for landlords Download the full report today👇 🔗 https://loom.ly/ajuOo4Y

Dr James Heydon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the #UniversityofNottingham. His research centres on how formal and informal social controls can be used to address environmental problems. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions can cause serious health problems for vulnerable groups, such as the young, elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. In the decade since 2012, PM2.5 emissions from domestic combustion – households burning fuels like wood, coal and smokeless fuels to heat their home – increased by 19%. By 2022 this made up almost 30% of the UK’s PM2.5 emissions. Given this increase, one could be forgiven for thinking that #UK #policymakers are blind to the problem or have little interest in legislating against it. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The UK has one of the oldest regimes for controlling domestic combustion emissions anywhere in the world. So, what is going on? The UK’s main regulatory tool for tackling domestic combustion emissions is the smoke control area (#SCA). Originally created by the #CleanAirAct 1956, these SCAs create zones where use of highly polluting fuels (like #coal) and appliances are prohibited. If someone is found to be breaking these rules, by emitting visible smoke from an appliance or fuel not on a government list, they can be fined. However, at almost seven decades old, this regime is outdated and has several features that make it unfit for purpose in the present day. Created in the 1950s to control the smoke-fuelled #London smogs that killed 12,000 people in three months, these regulations have evolved very little over the intervening period. SCAs cover less than 10% of the UK’s landmass and are fragmented across local council jurisdictions, creating an inconsistent patchwork of rulebound space both within and between urban areas. While some SCAs cover whole population centres (e.g. #Manchester and #Birmingham), others apply to only a small number of roads or neighbourhoods within cities populated by hundreds of thousands (e.g. #Cambridge and #Norwich). Other cities have no SCAs at all, like #Cardiff, with a population of over 360,000. This is similar to most rural locations, where whole towns and villages – which have changed significantly since the 1950s – have no SCAs at all (e.g. #Loughborough and #Stafford).