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Questions and Answers

Businesses

 

  1. Business engagement how? Not lots of pointless meetings.

There is a need to ensure that businesses of all types and at all levels are consulted in an appropriate way. The approach to involving business will differ according to the type and scale of business is being consulted.

The feedback we are getting from businesses, particularly small and medium sized ones, is that they cannot afford the time to attend stakeholder meetings. We therefore agree that we need to find other ways of involving them.

  1. How do we get industry more involved? (Only 5% represented here today)

The plan is to involve businesses through existing networks, be they trade associations or chambers of commerce etc. We will also use the opportunity to spread the message when businesses meet for other reasons. It may also be possible to hold short briefings on the MRS, for example breakfast briefings. A briefing paper on the proposed approach to involving businesses is being developed.

  1. Giving businesses some ownership on this process so they are included.

Agreed. Those businesses which are currently involved will be able to help the MRS team develop the process in the most appropriate way, and may also act as champions to help lead the discussions.

One of the key messages we need to get across is that material resources management is potentially good for increasing profits as well as for helping the environment. We need to identify businesses who have been successful in this area and publicise them as case studies to attract other companies. A good way of doing this is through the Hampshire Business Environment Awards and a number of the companies involved in the MRS process are entrants and/or winners in the Awards.

  1. Special focus on SMEs , and provide a waste audit service to identify cost to SMEs.

From the launch it has become clear that there is a specific requirement to include SMEs in the development of the MRS. However, it is clear that many SMEs do not have the time to attend stakeholder meetings so we have to find other ways of involving them. A briefing paper setting out proposals is being prepared. One approach that has been suggested is to use the meetings of SMEs that already exist, for example chamber of commerce networks, to raise MRS issues. This should limit the extra work required by SMEs through setting up new meetings and new networks.

  1. Council needs to recognise the issues of industry/business including waste recycling, especially in relation to regulation.

A considerable number of the waste and recycling industry have expressed an interest in involvement in the MRS, and they, and others not yet engaged, will be involved in the development of discussions on specific waste and recycling issues, which will include a range of topics, one of which will be regulation.

The Environment Agency, who are responsible for waste regulation, are also actively involved so we have a platform to discuss issues of mutual concern.

  1. Should work with local businesses? However their remit must not only be business – but the public and residents as a whole.

It is important that all sectors – public, private and community are involved in the MRS. There are links between all the sectors, for example corporate social responsibility, which dictates that businesses must take responsibility for being part of the local community.

  1. What more can be done to create the demand for a recycled product - creating a market for recycled products? - Creating a commercial opportunity?

WRAP is working at national level to create markets for recycled materials and demand for the products. We also need to implement local initiatives to support this work and this may be an issue that is proposed in the MRS.

The MRS needs to create a change in how materials are managed within Hampshire and this should lead to opportunities for entrepreneurs to create markets with new recycled and reprocessed material which will be come available.

Part of the MRS may be to outline support and guidance required to ensure that entrepreneurs are able to take advantage of these opportunities.

  1. Data management - sharing information of who does what in relation to recycling and waste.

There is a range of organisations involved at regional and local levels in minerals and waste management.

The Environment Agency (a central government agency) is responsible for regulating a wide range of environmental issues, including waste management. It is the main body responsible for collecting data on all waste disposals/management in England. Through their own research programme, DEFRA also collates statistics relating to waste management and recycling.

Further information on waste and recycling data can be obtained from www.environment-agency.gov.uk

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) is responsible for strategic planning at a regional level and has produced a draft minerals strategy and draft waste strategy for the South East. SEERA documents contain data at a regional level.

Further information can be obtained from www.southeast-ra.gov.uk

Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth and Southampton Unitary Authorities are minerals and waste planning authorities and have an interest in relevant data for land use planning purposes.

The eleven district councils are Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) responsible for collecting household waste and if requested, commercial waste. They have good data on amounts collected, including for recycling.

Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth and Southampton are also Waste Disposal Authorities (WDAs) responsible for managing municipal waste. This involves arranging for the treatment of waste collected by the WCAs and providing Household Waste Recycling Centres where the public can take their waste for recycling or disposal. In this role they have very good data on municipal waste arisings and treatment routes.

The County Council, Unitary Authorities and the eleven districts work together to discharge their functions through Project Integra. For more information see www.integra.org.uk.

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