Waste
On July 3rd we held our first themed event which was on waste.
The evening kicked off with Matthew Thompson, Chief Executive of the
London Community Recycling Network, followed by Cllr Tariq Ahmad, Ray
Barwick of Croydon ARC and Mariana Cervantes of the Kingston and Merton
Real Nappy Network.
After a short break, the gathering split into groups to discuss potential
projects individuals would like to get off the ground.
The reponse from people around the plastic bag free zone table was very
positive and enthusiastic for most part, which is very encouraging with a
follow up meeting being scheduled for Tuesday 14 August.
The idea is to tackle an area of Merton first before transferring it to
other parts if the borough.
Other potential projects which came out of the meeting included:
Composting in Schools - to take the catering waste, compost it in schools
for use in food or wildlife growing activities. Sustainable Merton is
working with Merton Parents to establish pilot schemes for a system which
is already up and running in other areas such as Islington
Energy from Waste - On a community level, to take waste from flats and use
it to create biogas for use in district combined heat and power schemes
which would provide a source of heating and electricity to homes
sepeartely from the national grid. Discussions are underway to set up a
waste and energy supply company in partnership with financers, an energy
company and the council.
Building Materials Re-use Store - redevelopments in the borough could
accomodate a development such as this which would take unused building
waste and use it to train young people to build low carbon, energy
efficient buildings in the borough which make use of renewable
technologies.
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Michael said,
May 8, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Modbury has banned plastic bags and is officially the first town in
Great Britain to become plastic shopping bag free!
Why not Merton next?
See: http://www.plasticbagfree.com/
Anthony said,
May 27, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
We can (and have) put pressure on local supermarkets to institute plastic carrier recycling schemes - the latest one to do so being Morrisons. Similar pressure could and should be put on them over packaging
Michael (for Mariana) said,
July 17, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Notes on Sustainable Merton’s Plastic Bag Free Working Table,
Tuesday 3 July 2007
On the evening of 3 July Sustainable Merton’s Michael Dees and Tom Walsh , along with Mariana Cervantes-Burchell of Kingston and Merton Real Nappy Network, presented a plan to initiate a plastic bag free zone initiative (“plagfree”) in Merton. Members of the audience were invited to take part in this initiative and a working table was created following a number of presentations.
Prior to setting up the working table, Tom and Mariana held a brief meeting, during which they agreed that the “Plagfree” initiative should start small-scale, i.e. through the introduction of a pilot in a small area. Tom suggested, and Mariana agreed, to start with the small shopping parade at the bottom of Arthur Road, in Wimbledon Park (SW19). The advantages of choosing such an area were identified as follows:
The parade counts with a Co-operative shop as its largest retailer, and this shop provides an excellent prospect to work with Plagfree and to provide alternative types of bags to its customers. Indeed, Tom had approached its Manager, who appeared very interested in taking part.
Other key potential partners were identified: Wimbledon Park Primary School, which has been recognised as being among the top 3 schools in the country for good environmental practice. And the Havana Road Farmers’ Market.
The shopping parade is quite small, and in an affluent area. This presents us with (a) a manageable size to introduce the scheme; and (b) a target group that financially and socially should be sufficiently stable to be able to accept some changes to their shopping habits as a commitment to the environment – and the planet!
The working table itself was very well attended, with 11 participants, most of whom provided their views and appeared very interested in developing this project. The working table was formed of the following people:
Andrew Beattie; Margaret Groves; Alison Wallace; Auriel Glanville; Ruth Baber; Harriet Bazley; Gavin Watts; John White; Tom Wright (East London resident pursuing East London plastic bag free initiative); Bellinda Thomas and Mariana.
Mariana put forward the proposal of starting with a pilot. She explained the benefits of starting in Wimbledon Park, which received good response overall from others around the table. Mariana also suggested the possibility of doing a pilot in a deprived area such as Pollards Hill. These suggestions were followed by input from various people around the table, including:
The need to assess the plastic bag needs of retailers (e.g. size, style, weight capacity);
Use Bags for Life as advertising of Plagfree – through printed messages on the bags and shops displaying Plagfree symbol on their windows, etc.
Start as pilot with only a few shops;
Look at the Ireland model and see what we can take from it;
Start a public petition demanding an end to plastic bags;
Get retailers on board by getting them into a competitive mode with each other on the adoption of Plagfree;
Public response: is it a question of demographics, i.e. high income vis-à-vis low income groups’ uptake of Plagfree;
Ending plastic bag use: is it responsible of retailers to do so given they may be undermining the needs of their customers?
Project must be do-able, i.e. easy;
Show film footage;
Organise a trip to Modbury – field work, i.e. interview local residents and shops; do shopping; observation.
Need to pursue useful contacts – e.g Bellinda Thomas may have some;
Need to agree on bag design;
Need to look at sourcing of bags for life.
At the end of the meeting all participants provided contact details and a date was set for the next meeting to take place on Tuesday 14 August at 19:00 – venue to be arranged by Mariana.
sustainablemerton said,
July 19, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Notes of meeting on plastic bag free initiative, Merton
Attended by: Tom Walsh, Auriel Glanville and Mariana Cervantes-Burchell,
Main points discussed at the meeting:
It was confirmed that the initiative will start with the implementation of the plastic bag free zone in Wimbledon Park due to the benefits presented by that area (refer to document “Notes_ Bag Free Zone 03 07 07)”. Therefore research and preparation will be focused on that area initially.
It was agreed that at present the initiative will not include Pollards Hill or any other area in Merton so as to focus all necessary resources in one area.
The group also agreed that Borough-wide research and assessment exercises will take place while the Wimbledon Park pilot is in place, in order to work towards gradual expansion of the plastic bag free initiatives.
It was agreed that Mariana will coordinate the Working Group, to be formed ideally of as many committed people as possible so as to count on the necessary support to carry out the necessary tasks and to add weight to the initiative.
The group at the meeting agreed that Tom, and more widely Sustainable Merton, will provide a key supporting/overseeing role to strengthen this initiative, in line with Sustainable Merton’s aim to play such a role with the various other projects identified through its forum.
It was agreed that Tom would make initial contact with the Co-operative Shop in Wimbledon Park (which he had already done), and that he would also initiate contact with:
Wimbledon Park Primary School;
Bishop Guilpin Primary School;
Havana Road Farmers’ Market.
Tom will write the various letters aimed at the different target groups: retailers, local schools and organisations, local residents, etc.
Auriel informed the meeting of her work in progress building a portfolio of pictures and images conveying clear messages on the devastation to wildlife and the environment caused by plastic bags. She envisaged the portfolio as a very practical way to convey clear messages to our target audiences, incl. retailers, local residents and local organisations.
It was agreed that the Portfolio is an excellent tool. The other visual tool that we aim to utilise is footage, such as “Message in the Waves”, to be shown in local schools and other local community venues.
We also agreed to try to organise screenings of Message in the Waves and other relevant footage, in local schools on Saturdays, to enable parents to attend while their children attend a screening of a children’s film at the same time.
In order to increase the profile of the initiative, the group will seek to use marketing tools such as:
Display of initiative in participating shop windows;
Bags to be printed with initiative’s logo/heading and with the logos of participating shops.
Mariana suggested headings such as: “Partnership for Wimbledon Park’s Community and Environment” and asked for suggestions from others.
Tom pointed out the importance and effectiveness of the “Do your bit” message to residents.
Financing of bags: various options still being explored. Tom suggested that traders donate bags to our group. No final decision yet taken, as traders may be very willing to bear cost of bags if their logos will be printed on them.
Types of bags: various options still being explored. Jute bag companies and cotton bag companies top of the list.
Target groups for Wimbledon Park:
Schools
Businesses
Local residents’ association
Local Churches/Mosque
Local organisations
Local press/media
At the meeting there was also agreement that we need to bring the public with us rather than use coercive methods, as a more constructive and effective way of working with others.
Finally ,it was also agreed that we shall not expect Merton council to finance the Wimbledon Park scheme, but that expansion of the scheme beyond Wimbledon Park would entail asking the council for a financial commitment.
John said,
August 12, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Like most people who attended the meeting on waste, I was impressed by the work of the Croydon charity ARC (Appliance Reuse Centre) which collects old electrical appliances and furniture and refurbishes them for resale - they have a partnership with the charity MIND (National Association for Mental Health) and employ some of their clients. Surely this is a model enterprise for the green economy.
But on reflection, I wonder if this isn’t a wrong turning. Organisations like ARC are dependant on substantial community funding from various sources. Ultimately they only exist because of the profits generated by the normal high-growth, throw-away economy.
But isn’t it good that the regular economy subsidises this green project? No! Because as long as we have some green projects run on subsidies, it means that green employment can never become a ‘normal’ part of economic life. Suppose an individual wants to make their living renovating goods - how can they compete against a massively subsidised business like ARC?
We have learnt this when it comes to overseas aid. The west used to think it was doing the third world a favour when it dumped its surplus food there - but now we realise this only destroys local producers and creates a permanent dependency culture.
If we are really going to build a sustainable Merton we need to change the ground rules. We cannot do this while living off un-sustainable Merton’s charity.
Michael (for Mariana) said,
August 14, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Next meeting: 19:00 August 14th at Drake House
Michael (for Mariana) said,
August 14, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
The meeting tonight has been moved to room h in wimbledon community centre. 28 St. George’s Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4DP
phil.vryenhoef said,
October 22, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
speaking on behalf of the ravensbury lanes and avenues residents association I would like to add weight to your ideas and arguments for sustaining local green areas and gardens which at present are under threat from greedy developers.One particular case is an ex labour councilor at number 35 florence avenue who is determined,along with his architect mr Catto to try and develop his back garden into a small housing estate.He has already had one project rejected on appeal but is now awaiting the outcome of his latest project from the appeal although it was rejected by the local planning department.Just how many times can this sort of situation repeat itself with all the time and money wasted purley to try and line the pockets of one greedy individual.If we as an association can be of any assitance to your cause please contact myself or the chairman of our association Mr Mark Hopkins mark@markhopkins.co.uk