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More Than Recycling 08
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With over 200 delegates coming from across the UK to take part in this year's event, the More Than Recycling Conference 08 has been the biggest and best yet, which really illustrates the sector's growth and an increased awareness about its important role in Scotland's future.
Matthew Lewis, CRNS Chair, and Gerard Hill, Secretary of the Scottish Co-operative and Principal Conference sponsor, provided the welcome addresses. Kevin Robbie of Forth Sector facilitated a dynamic and creative day of information exchange, active learning, informative speakers and networking.
During the conference, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead announced details of a £7.5million fund to support local recycling projects and also revealed that the new Zero Waste Think Tank will meet for the first time later this month.
Also speaking at the conference was one of the UK's most influential figures within the waste and recycling industry, Peter Jones OBE, director of Biffa Waste Services. During his address Peter said: "We have to stop our evil ways for the sake of our species and become more carbon efficient.
"Even economies like China are now realising that producing commodities such as plastic bags en masse is not a viable option, and more countries will get on board the resource efficiency message over the next few years."
Peter referred to a Biffaward publication entitled "The mass balance movement: the definitive reference for resource flows within the UK environmental economy". This is available to download from www.massbalance.org
Also speaking at today's conference was Erik Bichard, Professor of Regeneration and Sustainable Development at Salford University, who issued a stark warning to Scotland's recycling sector.
Taking centre-stage, Bichard argued that as waste material becomes an increasingly valuable commodity in the global economy, Scottish projects that fail to capitalise on this trend would disappear.
Erik referred to a publication called "A Better Way To Recycle", which is available to download from www.cooperatives-uk.coop/NewVentures/aBetterWayToRecycle
Delegates had the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of workshops and discussion sessions covering marketing and publicity, adding value to products, social accounting and kerbside collections.
The event concluded with the CRNS 3rd Annual Awards, which aim to promote the potential of the community recycling sector in Scotland by showcasing the sector's ability to provide social and economic advantages, as well as environmental benefits.
Showcasing the sector's aim to provide alternative recycling solutions Shetland Amenity Trust's Enviroglass, a project which has virtually eliminated Shetland's waste glass problem by using all the glass waste in paving slabs, scooped this year's Innovation Award, sponsored by SEPA.
Highland Council bagged the Local Authority Partnership Award, sponsored by the Yellow Pages Recycling Directory Scheme, for their continued support for the community recycling sector through Waste Diversion agreements, which will divert 4,000 tonnes of waste from landfill disposal in 2007-08.
And the highly coveted CRNS Member of the Year award, sponsored for the 3rd year by Novelis Recycling, went to Moray Recycling Action Group, for its furniture reuse project The Green Home, which collects all types of unwanted household items and reallocates it to others through their Buckie based retail outlets.
To read more about the Award winners click here
Iain Gulland, CRNS Network Director, said: "As a growing trend in Scotland, community recycling has an annual turnover in excess of £26 million and employs over 1,100 people nationally, as well as offering another 950 training places and providing 3,200 volunteer opportunities.
"As a sector which is about providing social and economic benefits for communities, as well as environmentally-minded solutions to waste management, community recycling is truly about more than recycling. We hope delegates in attendance today will take this message to heart, realise the potential of community recycling, and spread the word to others.
"The award-winners really exemplify the best in Scotland. We hope by showcasing their success, we can encourage more people to becoming involved with community recycling initiatives and generate more support for the sector."
"The conference was undoubtedly a great success and we are extremely pleased with what we have been able to offer the delegates in terms of calibre of speakers. We have had very positive feedback across the board and hope to welcome everyone back to Perth in 2009."
A BIG, BIG thank you to everyone that contributed to making More Than Recycling our best event ever and we look forward to seeing you all next year!
Eva Schonveld, Transition Towns
Listen to audio podcasts of all the speakers.
MTR08 has received some excellent media coverage including articles in The Herald, The Courier, The Metro, The Scottish Daily Express, The Scottish Daily Mail and the Press and Journal
