Zero waste blueprint backed by Liverpool City Region councils
A blueprint to slash carbon emissions from waste – spearheaded by Mayor Joanne Anderson – is being endorsed by local authorities across Liverpool City Region.
The aim is to make the most efficient use of resources by reducing the demand on them, and maximising reuse, recycling and recovery of resources instead of treating them as waste.
The Liverpool City Region Zero Waste Framework has been adopted by Wirral and was approved in Liverpool in January, and is going to other Councils for approval shortly.
The document sets out a number of priorities:
1: Accelerating actions to reduce carbon emissions
2: Improving community-based networks to reuse items
3: Introducing community composting
4: Using waste as a resource to deliver social value
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, said: “By working together with other councils to support this Zero Waste Framework and develop a strategy and action plan, we are setting ambitious waste prevention and circular economy objectives and actions, which are necessary to help us move towards our net zero carbon targets.
“Wirral Council declared an Environment and Climate Emergency in 2019 and remains committed to addressing the issues we face – this framework will help us all reduce the waste created and improve recycling and move towards making our communities more sustainable.”
Liverpool City Region leaders nominated Mayor Joanne as political lead for waste, resulting in the strategy for all six authorities which is now in the process of going through the approvals process.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said: “As Mayor, I’ve been on a mission to transform how we reduce waste and improve recycling across Liverpool City Region.
“I am proud to have produced this blueprint and secured the support of the City Region’s leaders which sees us boldly responding to the climate emergency while improving the lives of our residents.
“The Zero Waste Framework is a road map to making Liverpool and the wider City Region a more sustainable place to live. As leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure we take tangible action – but it’s up to each and every one of us to play our part to ensure the future of our planet.”
The immediate priority is tackling food waste, which accounts for around 40 per cent of the material in bins across the city region and is a significant source of carbon emissions.
A group has been set up with the aim of:
- Introducing food waste collections as soon as possible
- Educating households to reduce the amount of produce that is thrown out
- Reducing food poverty by preventing waste collection
- Ensuring residents have access to home or community composting
Other proposals include:
- Developing a circular economy to eliminate unnecessary waste by keeping products in use
- Establishing a reuse hub to promote reuse and repair activities
- Collecting more materials in recycling bins
- Introducing mobile and localised Household Waste Recycling Centres
- Expanding educational and behavioural change activity
- Optimising waste collection rounds across council boundaries
- Purchasing zero-emission waste vehicles
- Reducing waste crime such as fly tipping
Cllr Stef Nelson, Executive Board Member for Environment and Urban Renewal at Halton Council, said: “Halton is fully supportive of the combined Authority zero waste Strategic framework 2040 and officers and members are fully committed to deliver the framework”.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “While our waste collection services are not the largest contributor of carbon emissions, the emissions they produce must be reduced if we are to meet our climate action targets.
“Working together with partners across the city region is vital if we are able to identify sustainable solutions for reducing waste, encouraging re-use and seeing waste as a resource which can support the delivery of tangible and distributed social value.”
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “Sefton Council is fully committed to protecting our environment and ensuring that our planet, our country and our Borough remain healthy and attractive for future generations and sustain Sefton’s spectacular mix of rare habitats and wildlife.
“We are taking responsibility for reducing our emissions and have a range of projects underway that contribute to reducing our carbon footprint.
“I am delighted that, through the Zero Waste Framework, we are also able to be part of Liverpool City Region’s collective commitment to the vital goal of conservation and are working together with our neighbouring local authorities to tackle waste.”
Cllr Andy Bowden, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re in complete support of the City Region’s Zero Waste 2040 framework in St Helens Borough, aligning as it does with our own commitment to net zero emissions by 2040 and our Climate Action Plan.
“Here and across the wider region, the framework will support all local authorities to deliver on their own commitments towards a green and sustainable future, in which residents and businesses can contribute to the circular economy and minimise environmental impact.”
