Home

Resource Futures produce Waste Reduction Strategy and Plan for Oxfordshire Waste Partnership

In 2009 Resource Futures were commissioned by Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) to undertake a strategic review of their Waste Reduction Strategy and Plan and to make recommendations for the future.

About Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a predominantly rural county with 640,000 residents (2008) and has the lowest population density in the SE. 65% of the population live in detached or semi-detached properties and therefore could be ascribed as having a garden and be targeted for home composting of organics and garden waste. 30% of the population are between the ages of 25-44 and 22% of the population are 17 or younger.


Review
To provide a detailed platform for the strategy and plan, Resource Futures undertook the following research work:

  • A desk top study of recent waste composition analysis, waste arising data
  • Interviews with OWP partners/stakeholders regarding existing activities and their effectiveness
  • Review of existing documents: waste strategy, waste reduction plan and project reports
  • Review of existing collection systems
  • Review of communications: websites, printed materials, community engagement and education

Partner/stakeholder engagement


Workshop with key partners/stakeholders to present findings of waste composition analysis and identify priority material streams to target in future waste reduction strategy and plans


Recommendations

Recommendations included:

  • Changes to waste collection operations including HWRCs to maximise waste reuse and prevention effects
  • Improvements to communications activities including:
  • Development of key messages and their dissemination
  • Maximising links with corporate communications
  • Maximising effectiveness of existing delivery mechanisms both council staffing resources and use of external stakeholders
  • Improvements to education work
  • Focussing community engagement work on priority waste streams
  • Establishment of appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems
     

A business case for these changes was prepared showing projected effects on waste arisings and the financial impacts of waste reductions achieved.  Based on an analysis of the data available this work suggested that the cumulative savings which could be achieved from 2009/10 to 2013/14, including changes to existing collection systems, would be in the region of £3.4m.


Recommendations were presented to partners and stakeholders for feedback before finalisation.


Wayne Lewis from Oxfordshire Waste Partnership said: ‘In 2009, Resource Futures carried out a review of the Waste Reduction Strategy for Oxfordshire to 2014. This included a desk-based review of all strategies and plans, analysis of existing data, reports and other documentation, as well as interviews with stakeholders. We were very pleased with the outcomes of this work, which was carried out in a professional manner, within both budget and timescales.The findings have been instrumental in ensuring that our waste reduction work stays focussed on key priorities. We would be very happy to use Resource Futures again for work of this type.’
 

Project Synopses

Bulky Waste Guidance

Resource Futures was contracted by WRAP to develop Bulky Waste Guidance for Local Authorities in association with Caroline Lee-Smith. The guidance updated the original toolkit “Bulky Waste Collections; Maximising Reuse and Recycling - A Step by Step Guide” which provides ideas and identifies opportunities to increase the amount of household bulky waste that is reused and recycled. 

Teacher training event at Buckfast Abbey

A waste education training day for teachers from primary and secondary schools in Devon, run on behalf of Devon County Council.

Reducing waste at Castle Primary School

Waste Education at Castle Primary School, Tiverton, as part of the waste education programme funded by Devon County Council.

News and Events

Community RePaint: A Helping Hand for Hearts and Minds in 2011

In 2011, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 343,957 litres of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 217,112 litres to community groups and individuals saving 565 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 192 cars off our roads - and providing 766 volunteer and training opportunities. The network now has over 65 schemes across the UK with four new schemes about to start at the beginning of 2012.    

Resource Futures helps WRAP understand recent reductions in food waste

Resource Futures has recently helped WRAP to estimate how much household food waste has decreased nationally in recent years, with the recently published “Synthesis of Food Waste Compositional Data 2010” To see the report, click here.