Waste and Environment Programme

The overall purpose for the programme is to deliver significant cashable efficiencies and ensure that environmental impact from waste management is minimised.

Download the Waste & Environment Programme Factsheet

Background and Context

A series of challenging targets have been set by central government to reduce the amount of waste being generated and diverted to landfill.

This requires increasing levels of recycling and re-use, promoting waste reduction through a mixture of innovative service provision and by encouraging changing attitudes and behaviours.

Aiming higher

Despite recent improvements in the amount of household waste that is recycled, the North East is lagging behind the rest of the country in the reduction in the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. DEFRA asked the region to investigate the feasibility of establishing a Regional Sustainable Waste Board which would develop and deliver a Regional Waste Management Plan. The Programme and its partners will be involved and if the proposal goes ahead, it will be the first one in the country.

Improved Carbon Management

The Programme will act as a catalyst for improved carbon management by contributing towards the reduction in landfill and by a fostering a more efficient approach to logistics and the use of resources in the collection and treatment of waste.

Leading Change

To ensure that improvements in recycling and the re-use of waste are sustained, the public must be encouraged and reassured that changing behaviours and attitudes to recycling really does make a difference. In this respect, local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services are expected to take a lead in demonstrating that the organisations themselves take the agenda seriously and lead by example.

Collaborating for better results

Several of the region's authorities have achieved recent performance improvements by working together in sub-regional groups.

The Programme provides an opportunity to build on the progress already made, and those involved are well placed to map the activity of the various regional and national groups that tackle waste-specific issues. We can assess how they contribute to the agenda, avoid duplication and maximise the impact of their work.

We are also managing a Climate Change Best Practice Project which utilises funding from DEFRA. You can read about it here.

Programme Contacts

RIEP Programme Manager: Peter Schofield
Telephone: 07801 600 745
Email: Peter.Schofield@northeastcouncils.gov.uk

Local Authority Sponsor/Programme Board Chair: Paul Walker, Chief Executive, Hartlepool Borough Council