The Recycle for Cornwall campaign has been developed to raise public awareness of recycling and to provide consumers with a compelling reason to recycle.
In Cornwall during 2006/07 we produced 300,331 tonnes of waste. Approximately 21% (63,601 tonnes) of this waste was recycled and 10% (28,777) was composted. Leaving 207,615 tonnes that still went to landfill, or 69%. Landfill space is running out in Cornwall and although recycling rates are on the increase, we are still producing more waste each year, on average an increase of approximately 2.5% each year since 2001/2. Therefore landfill is not a sustainable option for waste disposal in the long-term.
96% of Cornwall is now covered by a kerbside collection which enables residents to leave out a variety of recyclable materials for regular collection. This service is also supported by bring bank facilities and recycling centres meaning recycling has never been easier! There are also a range of organisations across the county and further a field that can help people to recycle their waste, or minimise it in the first place.
Originally the Recycle for Cornwall campaign was initiated in order to raise awareness of recycling across the county. With funding of half a million pounds from the Cornish local authorities and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) the campaign ran for 18 months from September 2004- April 2006. The campaign was delivered through: • County wide events programme; • Canvassing households; • Dedicated website; • Freephone hotline; • Press and PR; and • Advertising.
Following the Campaign many more residents were more aware of what to recycle, where to recycle, when to recycle and how to recycle. However, there is much more to be done as we aim towards the ambitious target of a 40% recycling rate by 2010 proposed by the Government.
In the future the Recycle for Cornwall website and promotional work will be continued through a partnership of the local authorities across Cornwall, funded through the Local Area Agreement, working to promote Cornwall’s Waste Strategy which has two main aims: 1.To reduce waste going to landfill. 2.To increased reuse and recycling.
The strategy has seven key objectives to achieve these aims. The objectives will be promoted to encourage behavioural change by residents and visitors in Cornwall: 1.Shop Smart via planned and positive shopping habits. 2.Garden Waste Minimisation and Composting. 3.Reuse. 4.Junk mail reduction. 5.Washable nappies. 6.Recycling. 7.Litter awareness.
These messages are going to be delivered in Cornwall through a variety of media. The Waste Awareness Team will be undertaking the following activities among others: • Presentations for community groups and schools; • Educational workshops for schools and community groups; • Attendance at community events i.e. Royal Cornwall Show, Newquay Fish Festivals, local fun days etc; • Working with Cornwall Litter Partnership on the Clean Cornwall Campaign; and • Encouraging public participation in recycling through the production of a Waste Minimisation pack to inform Cornish residents of practical steps to reduce the waste and correct disposal.
"My partner is Swedish and really works hard to make sure we recycle as much as possible. Scandinavians are extremely environmentally conscious, we can all learn from that and the positive effect it has on our environment!"
"My partner is Swedish and really works hard to make sure we recycle as much as possible. Scandinavians are extremely environmentally conscious, we can all learn from that and the positive effect it has on our environment!"