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• Philosophy

• How the Material Resources Strategy was developed?
  
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• Background and context

• Overview of the problem

• Visions and aims

• Increasing resource efficiency and reducing wastage

• Maximising reuse, recycling and composting

• Dealing with unavoidable waste

• Meeting the need for minerals

• Need for new infrastructure and sites

• Moving forward

• Glossary

• FAQ

• Contacts / Get Involved

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Introduction Paper No 1

The material resources approach is based on the principle that we need to use raw materials more efficiently over the lifecycle of goods and products. A key part of this is changing the mindset so waste is considered as resource and fed back into the system as a raw material or source of energy.

To achieve the goal everyone has to do things differently. For example:

• Despite over 90% of households in Hampshire having kerbside collections of recyclables, we are only currently capturing about 30%. We need everyone to participate in recycling;
• The greatest opportunities for waste prevention are probably in the production stages through more efficient product design. We need to get business involved and engaged;
• We need to make recycling sustainable by developing markets for recycled materials and making sure that they are made into quality products that people actually buy;
• Public sector organisations need to show a lead in adopting best practice; and
• We need to influence Government to bring in measures to drive change from the top.

One of the ‘good news’ points is that business can actually increase their profits by adopting best practice in the way they use material resources. We need to get this message across.

The Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative (HNRI) has started to address these issues. HNRI was developed through stakeholder consultation over an 18 month period, leading up to a launch in September 2002. At the HNRI launch the vision, aims and objectives which had been developed through consultation were discussed and finalised – these were;

By 2012 the Hampshire community is acclaimed for its achievement through local action in conserving and using natural resources more efficiently.

• Maximise the role of commerce and industry in driving forward the more efficient and cost effective use of natural resources;
• Promote the concept of ‘consumer responsibility’ by ensuring that people have the information to make informed lifestyle choices;
• Reduce the impact of natural resource consumption on Hampshire’s environment and climate change;
• Establish the public sector as examples of best practice in natural resource use; and
• Influence change at EC/UK government levels.

The above aims cover the major sections of the process chain. It is proposed that using the Natural Resources Initiative approach within the MRS the major sections of the process chain are engaged to change behaviour.

This requires a fundamental rethinking of the traditional approaches to influencing attitudes and behaviour, having regard to:

• The motivations of the different sectors, for example the pressures on the general public to consume resources to maintain economic growth;
• The engagement and communications logistics involved with the size of the target audience in each sector; and
• The potential for quick wins.

How do we go about developing a plan to achieve the aims?

Who do we need round the table when we discuss how to proceed? Should we get everyone together or involve people on a sector by sector basis?

Do we need to involve big businesses that are not based in Hampshire but sell their products here? If so how?

What are the areas where we can make early progress and achieve quick wins?

1. Bearing in mind the needs of a successful MRS would you make any changes or additions to these outcomes?

• Involving and engaging everyone in household recycling
• Involving and engaging business in waste prevention
• Developing markets for recycled materials
• Involving public sector organisations in adopting best practice
• Influencing Government to bring in measures to drive change

1. What are the issues/barriers/needs/concerns associated with engaging the process chain?
2. Making reference to the section on ‘Issues to be resolved’ in your briefing note, what further work is required to achieve the proposed outcomes?
3. How do you think stakeholders should be involved in the MRS?

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