Council Push for Newcastle to Improve Waste Management

A push for Newcastle to improve their waste management is being implemented as figures show that
Newcastle City Council collects up to 142,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Newcastle, along with the rest of the UK, is battling with a waste increase crisis with the latest figures
showing £1.5 billion a year is spent in the hospitality sector on managing food waste.

It has also been revealed that in the past four years, Newcastle’s NHS has ordered over 11 million
disposable cups although is currently making positive steps to decrease this statistic.

Other recent focuses of waste management and reduction include the issue of plastics in the oceans,
single-use plastic packaging and export bans such as China’s who have recently implemented ‘Operation
Sword’ that has effectively closed the door to export this material.

Peter O’Connor who is a project manager with SLR Consulting - a waste management and environmental
advisory consultant company that has offices in Newcastle City Centre - says that it is encouraging how
the general public is slowly becoming better educated in waste management.

“There are a lot of high profile stories making mainstream media surrounding the management of
resources and people are becoming more aware and self-conscious of their global footprint.

“We all have a role to play in society with regard to management of our wastes and it’s important we all
recycle to not only help our community but to also save ourselves money,” said Mr O’Connor referring
to recent data that shows the average family in the UK loses up to £60 a month in food waste.

Newcastle City Council alongside other British councils have spent significant budgets in the recent year
on the education of waste management in the form of flyers and a rollout of new collection bins in an
attempt to improve recycling rates.

Mr O’Connor who praised Newcastle City Council on their new active measures to improve waste
management despite budget cuts also shared his sympathy.

“Putting these new waste collection facilities in place is very costly and time-consuming and government
the policy requires certain recycling rate targets to be met annually, otherwise, local councils can face
hefty fines,” he said.

Government targets for businesses and council collections include up to a 75% increase in recycled goods
by 2025 and most councils, including Newcastle City Council are on track to succeed.

Local businesses are also making extra efforts to reduce their waste and this can be seen by the general
public in the form of local bars and cafes reducing their use of plastic straws and disposable cups.

“I’ve noticed many coffee shops in the area are adapting to this demand and I even saw one last week
offering double loyalty stamps for customers using their own travel mugs!

“Removing these particular products will have a massive positive effect and will overall reduce packing
and additional wastes from even entering the waste stream from in the first place,” added Mr O’Connor.

Mr O’Connor also believes that if appropriately managed, waste could actually begin to have a positive
effect on our future lifestyles,

“If alongside waste control we also consider an improvement in energy management, the two could help
with renewable energy source materials such as biofuels.

“These sustainable biofuels will have unlimited advantages to our environment and although may take
many decades will one day allow the UK to become more independent from fossil fuels.”

Twitter:@_HollyOConnor_