« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
3. Consumers
Consumer decisions play a central role in determining the amount of household waste that is generated. We need to ensure that consumers understand the waste implications of their purchases and know the alternatives to disposing of items which are still useable. Respondents to the consultation were very much in favour of raising consumer awareness of issues such as excess packaging and unwanted mail and empowering them to challenge retailers and other providers of goods and services.
The 'Sort-It' tool, developed by SWAG, provides comprehensive information on opportunities to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost waste ( www.sort-it.org.uk). This information will be enhanced in line with the actions in this plan.
Action 6: SWAG and others to further promote ways in which consumers can consider their purchasing decisions and prevent household waste. For example by:-
- promoting online waste exchanges e.g. Ebay, Freecycle
- promoting the use of charity shops and auctions for unwanted but reusable items
- promoting buying 'experiences' rather than gifts
- promoting borrowing / hiring of items
Carrier bags
The majority of retail purchases involve issuing plastic carrier bags. Following withdrawal of the Member's Bill to introduce a levy on plastic carrier bags the action proposed is based on a voluntary code of practice to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags.
Action 7: SE to work with the British Retail Consortium, retailers, UK Government and plastics industry to agree a code of practice to reduce the environmental impact of plastic and paper carrier bags by 2008 (equating to 1,000 tonnes per year).
Unwanted Mail
There are a variety of ways of reducing unwanted mail such as signing up for the Mailing Preference Service; opting out of the Royal Mail's door-to-door service for delivering unaddressed mail; ticking the box on the voter registration form so that your details do not appear on the edited version of the electoral register, which anyone can buy; opting to receive utility bills on-line, rather than through the mail; writing to bodies to request that they stop sending you mail; being careful about providing your name and address to bodies who might then add you to their mailing lists.
Action 8: SE / SEPA will take further action with SWAG and others to reduce the amount of unwanted mail delivered to householders by 10% by 2010. We will ensure any code of practice with the Direct Mailing Association extends to Scotland and is publicised.
Action 9: WRAP, SWAG and others to further encourage home composting to increase diversion rates from 8,500 in 2006-07 to 17,000 tonnes by 2007-08 and 24,000 tonnes by 2009-10 (see Annex B). WRAP, SWAG, community groups and others to support Master Composter schemes and to further encourage the use of home food digesters.
Action 10: SE / SEPA to continue to work with SWAG, Local authorities, manufacturers and Community sector groups to reduce the waste impact of nappies (to divert 3,000 tonnes per year).
N.B.SEPA is producing a 'Household Waste Prevention Guide' for local authorities, community groups and others seeking to develop and implement waste prevention projects or campaigns. The guide will be available in March 2007 at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/prevention/toolkit.htm
« Previous | Contents | Next »