“Incentives are a small step in the right direction and we are glad that the council recognise that we need to increase recycling rates. It is a shame that this has to be done through Nectar, meaning more money going into big chain stores rather than local, independent shops who tend to have a better record of using less packaging and producing less waste.

Generally, we need to reduce the complexity of recycling and collect more recyclable waste more often to ensure it doesn’t go into black bags and get burned instead.

Councils need to reduce the frequency of black bag waste collections so long as they increase the frequency of recycling collections and collect food waste every week. What is crucial is that people understand that recycling does save councils a lot of money, which in turn saves the tax-payer a lot of money.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth have been calling for the amount of rubbish in black bags to be halved through food waste collections and better kerbside recycling.”

The scheme is being piloted in in these areas with the hopes to roll it out to over 400,000 households across the city.

In the first scheme of its kind in Britain, up to 4,500 homes are to benefit from the reward which according to a council spokesman will earn households 25 point per collection. Residents will be given a barcode sticker to attach to their recycling bins which will be scanned by recycling collectors upon each visit.

The innovative scheme is being demonsrated today on the streets of Cotteridge by Councillor Tim Huxtable and Nectar Client Development Director Will Shuckburgh, with points also being earned at leisure centre visits across the city.

Councillor Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said:

“Increasing public participation in recycling is a key objective for both the City Council and future of the city as a whole, so we are delighted to have teamed up with such a prominent partner as Nectar to promote this initiative.

This is a real win-win project for all, as the more that people recycle, not only will they be helping to save the environment, but the more opportunity they will get to reward themselves.”

Will Shuckburgh from Nectar said:

“Using Nectar points to reward residents for environmentally-friendly behaviour is a great initiative and we’re excited to be working with Birmingham City Council to implement this scheme, ultimately hoping to make the city a greener place. Many people may already be recycling so by signing-up to the new initiative they will be rewarded with points to spend on a range of treats for relatively little extra effort.”

The scheme will be funded through the West Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and not directly from council tax funds. Nectar points can be redeemed at stores such as Sainsbury’s, Argos and Homebase

Read a statement by Birmingham Friends of the Earth on the scheme.

The petition urges the council to, alongside its current collections, add a separate collection from homes for food waste. Friends of the Earth believe that if Birmingham were to follow cities such as Swansea and Leeds, collections would reduce the amount of vermin in the city as well as possibly halving the amount of rubbish sent to landfill or incinerators.

Whilst the issue of vermin would be reduced, the food waste would then be composted en masse, locking up carbon and avoiding sending the waste to landfill where it produces methane in decomposition, which is argued as being the worst greenhouse gas.

Joe Peacock of Birmingham FoE said:

“If it can be kept separate, the remaining dry wastes can mostly be recycled. Both components could become a resource instead of a problem. Birmingham’s recycling rate could be doubled by 2020, and our rubbish mountain halved, or better. In fact this has to happen if the City Council’s own target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% is to be met.”

Currently a large proportion of waste from Birmingham homes is incinerated or sent to landfill, however the city council has made improvements in recent years on paper and plastics collections which have increased the amount of rubbish recycled and the council are already meeting its current targets on reducing carbon emissions. There are further plans to incentivise some forms of recycling which are to be announced next week.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said:

“At the moment we have no plans to add another collection alongside the ones we already have, we believe that it is cost prohibitive to include another collection from households, and we do believe that the best solution to this is that people compost at home. We do actively encourage people to compost their food waste at home, by teaming up with evergreener.com we now offer discount composters and wormeries, as well as bargain priced water butts.”

However the e-petition is still open and Friends of the Earth have said that this food waste could be better used by waste companies such as Biogen which has a number of plants in the Midlands.

These plants turn such waste into fertiliser to spread on fields, and gas, which is used to heat buildings or to generate electricity.

The petition is available to sign here, but if you are interested in composting at home then discount composters are available here.

The experts at Envirowise realised that the best way to reach businesses was throught the Internet. They decided to create a Virtual Tour, which they named as ‘Green-street’. State-of-the art technology was used to build the website. The technology allows individuals to experience the virtual exteriors of some organisations who have used environmental methods to cut-down on their carbon foot-print and energy consumption rates. . The initiative is aimed at educating other businesses about what they can do to cut down on resources.

The state of art 3 dimensional animations will show the exterior of five buildings, these include: Cost Cutters Arms, the Verte Restaurant, the Green Leaves Hotel, the Water Tower office block and the Efficient Engineering Company People will be able to access publications and reports detailing the different ways that they can reduce water consumption and energy.

Tim Robins, Envirowise Regional Manager for the West Midlands, said:

‘Research by Envirowise1 has shown that businesses in our area believe that using fewer raw materials, generating less waste and placing a greater emphasis on energy efficiency are all likely legacies of the recent recession. By exploring Green Street firms can easily find out how to make positive changes and save money, with help on everything from minimising lighting and heating, to more detailed advice on developing a formal environmental management system.’

He added:

‘We know the internet is an integral part of the business working day so we have created this new animated tool in order to make this free advice as accessible to local firms as possible.’

Businesses can visit the ‘Green Street’ at: www.envirowise.gov.uk/greenstreet

The scheme has been running for the past few months and is part of the ASDA pledge to send zero wast to landfill by 2010. It means that shoppers are no longer able to take an unlimited number of plastic carrier bags but must buy a Bag for Life, costing 5p per bag, in the hope of encouraging people to re-use them. There are also carrier bag recycling facilities in all ASDA stores, as another attempt to cut down the amount of bags being sent to landfill.

ASDA customers’ carrier bag usage stood at 2.2 billion per year according to figures from 2007 on the ASDA website. The scheme aims to reduce this by about 15%.

There is no doubting the good intentions of this scheme in looking after the environment. However, we wanted to know what the average shopper thought of the scheme and whether or not they felt that it was helping the environment or just plain annoying. See the audio slide-show for the full responses.

Many of the people asked said that they do manage to re-use their bags and that the scheme is beneficial to the environment as, without it, they would be using the small carrier bags and throwing them away. However, some shoppers expressed a concern in having to pay for them and said that it’s relatively annoying if they forget them because then they end up with more than they need or have to make-do without.

On the whole, most people agreed that the ASDA Bag for Life scheme is a positive step towards reducing their carbon footprint and in encouraging them to re-use and recycle their bags.

WRAP and AWM (Advantage West Midlands) are working in partnership to develop the commercial and industrial waste recycling sector in the West Midlands.

The WRAP – AWM Programme gives recycling businesses in the region an opportunity to benefit from funding and practical support.

The programme is an exclusive package of support worth £4.97 million, including grants, practical advice and business development services.

Delivered by WRAP on behalf of AWM, the Programme has been designed to increase the capacity and scope of recycling services dealing with commercial and industrial waste.

Mark Pearce, Corporate Director for Economic Regeneration at Advantage West Midlands, said

‘ The West Midlands produced the country’s first low carbon economic strategy and the WRAP -AWM initiative shows how we are coming up with innovative solutions for tomorrow to make the low carbon era become a reality’

Firms which will apply for the programme to grant funding to help pay for new or expanded waste processing capacity, might well improve their services and that what will guaranty a reduction is waste and increase in recycling, in the region.

Climate change festival is returning to Birmingham this year on 5^th June, and will run until the 7^th June.  The festival aims to better inform the public about what we can do to help combat climate change.  

The festival will feature a solar powered green circus and road show, ethical and fair trade market, solar powered stage with music and a biodiversity zone.

Activities will be primarily based in Centenary Square, despite their being other events taking place within the same period, such as the BRMB Walkathon, which helps to reinforce walking as a sustainable method of travel for citizens. This event will take place across several distracts in the city.

Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

 “The Birmingham Climate Change Festival is a fun, entertaining and informative way for people to learn about what is being done to make Birmingham green for those that live, work and visit the city.

“Everyone had a role to play when it comes to cutting carbon emissions and making Birmingham green. I hope the wide variety of activities that we have organised will lead to a good turnout inspire people to do their bit.

The Recycling Pledge

The festival also wants to encourage people of the West Midlands to do more recycling. A big part of the festival this year is promoting this particular campaign ‘breast talk bra appeal’ this is a campaign which encourages women to recycle their bras. The campaign will run throughout the duration of the festival, and ‘Bra banks’ are conveniently situated across Birmingham city centre for women to dispose of their bras.  Bras will then be distributed to developing countries who don’t have access to these types of garments or who don’t have the money to afford them.  

Getting Involved

Sharon Lea, Strategic Director of Environment and Culture, said:

 “I urge all the women of the West Midlands, particularly Birmingham women to look into their underwear draws find all those bras out that they no longer want and recycle them, they will go to somebody that needs them and will also raise money for charity”  

Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

“The bra bank is a wonderful no-frills idea which has so many benefits – we avoid spending unwanted items to landfill and help people in developing countries. Combined this perfectly captures the spirit of sustainability.”

There are many organisations which support the event, who will be there offering advice and information to help reduce yor carbon footprint. The organisations will also be offering activities for the public to get involved with. Organisations include, Northfield Eco Centre, Friends of the Earth, Revolver T-Shirts, Traidcraft, Smurfit Kappa, Veolia, Real Nappies, RSPB, Family Housing, Birmingham Nature Service, Forestry Commission, Birmingham Organic gardens, along with others.

An annual update on Birmingham’s progress towards its goal of cutting carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2026 (when compared to 1990 baseline levels) is also expected to be announced during this three day event.

Visit here to see how the bra’s are going to be recycled.

Here is a step by step programme of the first day of the festival – 5th June – which also coinsides with World Enviroment Day.

The festival will take place between June 5-7 and the underwear that is collected will be sold by local recycling company BCR Global Textiles to women who may not be able to afford these garments in developing/Third World countries. BCR will also contribute the proceeds of the sales to causes in Britain like the Breast Cancer Campaign charity.

Special ‘Bra Banks’ similar to those which are used to recycle empty bottles will be placed across the city to allow women to discard their unwanted underwear.

The famous ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ statue in Victoria Square will be wearing her own bra and there will also be photo and filming opportunities near the statue.

Cllr Paul Tilsley of Birmingham City Council feels the event will go a long way towards the city’s target of making Birmingham green.

“The Birmingham Climate Change Festival is a fun, entertaining and informative way for people to learn about what is being done to make Birmingham green for those that live, work and visit the city.

“Everyone has a role to play when it comes to cutting carbon emissions and making Birmingham green. I hope the wide variety of activities that we have organised will lead to a good turnout inspire people to do their bit.

“The bra bank is a wonderful no-frills idea which has so many benefits – we avoid sending unwanted items to landfill and help people in developing countries. Combined this perfectly captures the spirit of sustainability.”

A green solar-powered circus, eco-technology demonstration stands as well as theatrical performances for schools will be some of the activities and attractions on offer during the three day event.

Organisations like Birmingham Friends of the Earth, Northfield Eco Centre, Veolia and RSPB will also be at the festival with information and activities.

The BRMB Walkathon will be taking place to help promote walking as a sustainable method of travel for citizens. It will be staged on June 6. To find out more click here.

Visit my blog to watch Sharon Lea the city council’s Strategic Director of Environment and Culture encourage women to recycle their bras.

97% of residents in the suburb near Bournville, south Birmingham, are now recycling their paper, cardboard, plastic and garden waste.

This figure comes from a local council newsletter delivered to residents back in April of this year.

The newsletter claimed:

“Paper, cardboard, glass, tins, plastic bottle and green waste are now collected from 97% of properties in Stirchley and Hazelwell.”

People living in this area have massive access to recycling facilities, shown by the map below. BirminghamRecycled spoke to Stirchely man David Reynolds, of Pineapple Road, to see how this affects the residents:

“I have been recycling my paper and glass waste for years further up the road, but since the recycling boxes have been provided it is much easier.  I like to do my bit and give something back. I’m proud to say I live in Stirchley with recycling rates that high!”

But the good news doesn’t transcend across all of the city, with Birmingham on a whole only recycling 33% of its rubbish.

When asked how the city could improve their recycling rates, and what other areas should do to keep up with Stirchley; councillor for the Bournville ward, Nigel Dawkins, said:

“Over the last 5 years we have rolled out the largest multi waste recycling collection system in Europe. I am sure that other areas in Birmingham are also approaching these kinds of figures as we continuously improve the service to residents.”

So for now at least, keep your eyes peeled for a recycling bin and help keep Birmingham green!

View Recyling in South Birmingham in a larger map

The super store currently uses a number of different management methods as part of its Zero Food Waste to Landfill Network

Neil Sachdev, Sainsbury’s commercial director said

‘It is hoped that by 2012, the supermarket chain will use AD only to handle its food waste’

The Midlands food waste will be treated at Biffas Anaerobic Digestion plant – the UKs first mixed waste AD plant. The facility was originally designed to receive food waste which has been mechanically separated from household refuse but now it can also remove packaging materials from food waste

Biffa engineering director John Casey said

’Securing this contract with Sainsburys for the management of food waste from their Midlands stores has been the result of 18 months hard so we hope for the best ’

The West Midlands can see a greener future as the company said it was now working on new AD plan in the region.