"Waste is rising and so is our demand for metal, paper and plastics."
What is the Council's policy?
By reducing the amount of waste produced we lessen the demand for raw materials like paper and metal and decrease the impact on the environment through extraction, processing and transport costs.
The continual increase in waste generation not only has an impact on our quality of life but also impacts on the Council, with rising waste collection and disposal costs. All of us, from householders, community groups, to the commercial and industrial sectors have a role to play in reducing the amount of waste that is currently being generated.
Presently a large majority of the waste we produce is landfilled. However recent and forthcoming government and European legislation is putting a greater emphasis on slowing the growth in waste, minimising waste and reusing and recycling waste.
Recent waste management strategy has been based on a hierarchical approach with waste reduction sitting at the top followed by reuse and then recycling.
The only truly sustainable municipal waste management option is waste reduction or better still waste prevention. The focus of most attention to date though has been on the other facets of the hierarchy with an overarching goal of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. Whilst recycling is clearly a good thing it can only delay the disposal of resources.
Recycling is costly and recycled goods themselves will have to be recycled again or ultimately be processed using less favorable waste management methods such as incineration or landfill. Waste that is prevented remains prevented.
Target45Plus
Target 45+ is the joint sustainable waste management strategy that both East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull City councils have adopted to deal with the region's waste until 2020. View waste management strategy. [pdf: 476Kb]
Public consultation on the strategy led to the selection of a target of at least 45 per cent recycling and composting by 2010, coupled with energy from waste as the preferred choice of residents for dealing with the region's waste.
The consultation was based on a study known as a Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) study. View Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) study. [pdf: 73Kb]
Visit the Target45Plus website for more information.
What can I do and what is the Council doing?
Take a look at East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Recycling section.
Read the Joint Waste Development Plan [pdf: 775kb] if you want to know about the future plans for waste management in the area.
Target 45+
The joint sustainable waste management strategy, is the name of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council plan to deal with the region's waste for the next 15 years.
A-Z recycling directory
The ultimate guide to recycling in East Riding of Yorkshire. This guide outlines what you can put in your blue bin, what you can recycle elsewhere, and how you can reuse many household items.
