Plastics Campaign - April 2019

“A Plastic Ocean” film screening with Festival of Debate is at 2:30 pm on Saturday 11 May at Theatre Deli and we will need to staff a stall during the day and Justin will be able to promote it on Twitter and take photographs. Click here for more details

Richard and Amy will discuss future support for the MPs campaign to promote a Plastics Pollution Action Plan Bill and the petition.

Plastics Campaign Update March 2019

Richard had done a talk and activities with Year 4 at Rivelin. Shaun has been in touch with Amy Parker originally from Bristol, but now living in the Peak District. She has lots of experience with beach clean-up activities and a link to the producer of Plastic Ocean so might be able to provide additional contacts. The Plastic Ocean film screening with Festival of Debate has a 2 hour slot (starting at 2:30 at Theatre Deli as part of the One Planet Hub Day) so there will no be time for more than a short discussion/Q&A.

See https://www.facebook.com/events/976614342538285/ for more details of the Festival of Debate event which takes place on Saturday May 11.

MPs’ plastics campaigning group  – 30 MPs attended the meeting at Westminster to launch a campaign to support plastics legislation.

Plastics Campaign Update - February 2019

Sheffield FoE will screen “A Plastic Ocean” film with Festival of Debate on 11th May at Theatre Deli as part of the festival’s Environment Day. 2:30-4:30 for film + talk

Friends of the Earth are launching their Plastic Pollution Bill. Ask your MP to support it.  2 places are available for the FoE event on 25thFeb at the House of Commons. Anyone interested in going can contact Richard through admin@sheffieldfoe.co.uk

Gove has announced national plans to standardise recycling.

Plastics Campaign Update - October 2018

Shaun reported that Liddy has been in discussions with Sheffield Festival Of Debate 2019. They approached Sheffield Friends of the Earth regarding an environmentally themed day during the festival.

Drew discussed the options for screening ‘A Plastic Ocean’ in the near future. Friends of the Earth Sheffield hope to secure a viable venue by November. Drew to complete the event proposal for Sheffield Festival of Debate 2019 before 5th November.

Friends of the Earth's Plastic Action Plan is in the final stages and will be released soon. Anyone interested in discussing the plan with their local MP should contact Edward Burke (Edward.burke@foe.co.uk). Please also let us know in the Sheffield group.

Richard and Drew discussed the recent meeting with 65th Ecclesall Brownies where Friends of the Earth Sheffield provided a talk and some fun activities centred on plastic waste and it’s threat to marine life. We would be pleased to consider holding similar events on Climate and Environmental related themes for any group: children, youth or adults. Please contact us if you're interested. Shaun suggested it may be possible to take bookings for future talks and event evenings through the website and/or Facebook page

Richard to take the Friends of the Earth national conference call on the 17th October

Richard to send a response to the recent enquiry regarding monitoring emissions at the Sheffield incinerator

Take Acton - Can you help with our next stall?
Richard will be running the Friend of the Earth stall at the Peace & Craft Fair on the 3rd of November.  Set up from 9 am (stall to be set up by 10:45am latest)Anyone willing to help run the stall can sign up here: https://doodle.com/poll/bnnbf7tw7encne95

Plastics Campaign - September 2018 Update

Richard and Drew met with 65th Ecclesall Brownies on 24th September for a talk and some activities raising awareness about the huge problem plastic waste is presenting, particularly to marine life.
Look out for our petitions on this including the one highlighting microfibres in clothes and washing. See https://act.friendsoftheearth.uk/act/micro-fibres-petition.

We would be pleased to consider holding similar events on Climate and Environmental related themes for any group: children, youth or adults. Please contact us if you're interested.

We hope to show the film "A Plastic Ocean" at some time in the near future. Watch this space for further developments.

We missed the FoE conference call on developing the plastics campaign as Drew had to work.

Plastics Campaign Update - June 2018

Stalls
FoE have been developing their own plastics campaign and produced sign up/petition sheets and stickers, posters, flyers etc.  We discussed their stall suggestions and could run a competition for ideas to reduce plastic waste as well as collecting contact details for future campaigning on July stalls. ACTION: Shaun to order campaign materials to be sent to Richard for 7th July and confirm the stickers are plastic free.

Beach Clean
A beach clean is being organised by The Deep under the Humber Bridge in Hull on 22 September. If enough people are interested then we could organise to travel by train or maybe car sharing. ACTION: Shaun to ask for further information about arrangements and equipment being provided. Please let us know if you are interested in going.

Film Screening
There is an opportunity to show the film “Plastic Ocean”. ACTION: Shaun to check availability/licensing with national FoE

Media Work

On the same day as our general meeting, Beatrice spoke to BBC Look North about recycling and incineration.

2012 - 2013 Yearly Review

Clean British Energy Campaign
This has mainly focused on people signing postcards to urge the government to invest in renewables rather than following a ‘Dash for gas’.  If gas fired power stations were built it would mean the UK would not achieve it’s Climate Change targets, it would mean less green jobs and higher fuel bills as gas prices continue to rise.  People were also encouraged to earn a CBE certificate by switching to a power company that invests in renewables such as Ecotricity or Good Energy.  A petition to make Sheffield a Frack-free city was started with Sheffield Climate Alliance.  A photo stunt entitled ‘Green is working’ to promote green jobs was held in October.  A display of photographs featuring Renewable Energy was set up in the Town Hall foyer in December.

‘Energy we can all afford’ public meeting – Clive Betts MP (Labour), Cllr Joe Otten (LibDem) Simon Bowen (FoE) Craig Jackson (SYHA & LiveGreen) and Emma Bridge (Sheffield Renewables) answered questions from the public about the rocketing fuel bills, green jobs and climate change.  The meeting held at The Circle on Rockingham Lane, was organised by Sheffield Friends of the Earth in collaboration with Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change.  It was held despite heavy snowfall and hope it influences Decarbonisation targets being included in the Energy Bill.

The Bee Cause
In July we held a Bee Breakfast with Meg Munn MP & Cllr Isabel Bowler and were featured on Radio Sheffield by Paulette Edwards.  In September Cllr Jillian Creasy and Cllr Sylvia Anginotti attended a Bee Walk.  There was a petition for a National Bee Action Plan and cards for people to sign.  Free seeds, wildflower posters and booklets made this a very popular campaign.  A bee map where people had marked their bee friendly gardens was displayed in the Town Hall foyer in September.  The group are currently searching for a site to plant a bee meadow in Sheffield.

Make it Better Campaign
Some smart phones contain tin which comes from Bangka Island in Indonesia causing devastation of the environment.  E-mails were sent to Samsung and Apple.


Litter Pick
We conducted our litter pick on Penistone Road on the Jubilee Holiday Tuesday 5th June 2012.  We wore masks of the Royal Family and were featured in the Sheffield Star newspaper.

Free Green Film Festival
As a result of a ‘buy two get one free’ offer at Dogwoof films, we showed ‘The Island President’, a very recently released film, on 30th May 2012.

The latest film festival will take place in the Spring 2013 with four films being shown on successive Wednesdays at the Red Deer pub beginning with Blue Gold on 17th April.

Stalls
We have run 9 stalls at: Environment Week, National Climate Jobs Caravan, the Green Fair, Firth Park Festival, Lowedges Festival, Ecclesfield Gala, Sheffield Food Festival, Riverlution and Peace and Craft Fair

Facebook, Twitter and Website
Sheffield FoE now has an active presence on Facebook and Twitter thanks to John who tweets and posts regularly.  Shaun has radically updated the website so it has a fresh modern feel.

Speakers
Dave Berry from Sheffield Renewables spoke at the September meeting about the share offer.  As a result of this it was decided that Sheffield FoE should buy a share.  Malcolm Lee of Sheffield Forgemasters spoke at the February meeting on the subject of ‘A Manufacturing Perspective on UK & EU Climate Change Policy’

Training
Members have attended various training sessions including the FoE Northern Gathering at Haworth, Local Groups' Conference in London, Planning Masterclass (Richard) and the Bee Prepared Day in Darlington.  There were also more varied local training days such as Planning and Sustainable Housing.

Other Actions

• Gerry attended the ‘Broomhill Air Quality Symposium’ on 21st April 2012.  
• Richard reported on his visit to the Garden Organic AGM at the May meeting.
• Liddy helped out on 15th September on a Greenpeace stall to lobby MPs about the Electricity Market Reform Bill.
• Richard attended the Sheffield Food Conference on 13th September and wrote a short report.
• Maureen wrote in support of Holbrook Biomass plant providing it is locally sourced.
• We opposed the RecyCoal planning application with a draft letter of objection being circulated among members.  Unfortunately this was passed at the January planning meeting. 
• Met with Cllr Jack Scott in October to discuss SCC environmental policy.
• We opposed the widening of the Incinerator’s resource base to as far away as Newark.  A sample bullet pointed letter was circulated among members for them to lodge their objections.
• Maureen’s letter about fracking was featured in January 10th Sheffield Telegraph.
• John talked to Sheffield Rotary Club about Sheffield FoE on 12th February
• Beatrice and John lobbied David Blunkett on 9th March about putting pressure on the government about the Energy Bill

Waste Campaign

From yoghurt pots to CDs, we know that people across the UK are fed up with having to bin so much rubbish and much of it could be avoided in the first place if companies cut unnecessary packaging and products were built to last.  The Government is now deciding what to do about the nation's rubbish and the results of this Waste Review are due in May, so we have a massive opportunity to push for an ambitious goal to halve household 'black bag' waste by 2020. We're also asking for a similar goal for businesses to cut the amount of waste they bury and burn.

To make the campaign visible to the Government, several members of Sheffield Friends of the Earth joined a spoof version of David Cameron outside the Town Hall to call for a 50% reduction in household waste. The stunt obtained press coverage and the photograph below in the Sheffield Star.

For more details of the campaign see www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/talking_half_rubbish_27167.html

Group News Spring 2006

CO-OP CLIMATE CAMPAIGN 
During 2006 the Co-operative Bank will be working in partnership with Friends of the Earth to campaign on climate change issues.

ONYX PROTEST
Sheffield's Ponds Forge hosted the National Recycling Awards on Tuesday 25th October. Whilst we support the event, we joined forces with Sheffield Green Party to protest against Onyx's plans for incineration instead of recycling. A press release was published in the Sheffield Star.

STALLS
A festival took place on 13th August in Osgathorpe park called Islam and the Environment. Its aim was to raise awareness in the local community about environmental issues, taking an Islamic perspective as many of the local residents are Muslim. Although we couldn't attend the event we sent some membership and climate change leaflets.

CLIMATE CHANGE STALL
Sheffield Friends of the Earth ran a stall on the Moor on Saturday 5th November. We handed out 160 free energy saving light bulbs as part of our campaign to highlight climate change.

FUTURE STALLS
Do you know of any events Sheffield Friends of the Earth could attend during 2006. If so please contact Shaun

LEAFLET DISPENSERS
Sheffield Friends of the Earth recently purchased a number of professional leaflet dispensers to make our stalls look better and to stop the leaflets blowing away in the wind. As the dispensers are stacked, they now provided more table space for petitions and light bulbs.

ACCESS TO MEETINGS
Our regular meetings are held upstairs at the Red Deer pub which creates problems with access as a steep flight of stairs must be climbed. To provide a partial solution to this problem, we are trying to hold four meetings (once a quarter) at Recycling Matters on Spital Hill. We are aiming for the first meeting to start in February so please contact Steve for the latest information.

ETHICAL BANK ACCOUNT
Sheffield Friends of the Earth are in the process of creating a new bank account with the Co-operative Bank due to their ethical policies. We hope the account will be operational by early 2006.

We will still keep the existing Royal Bank of Scotland accounts as we have a number of standing orders and direct debits paid into them. If you are one of these people and you would like to move it to our new co-op account then please let us know.

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Paper copies of our newsletter take a  considerable amount of time to photocopy and post, thus reducing time spent on campaigning. The paper newsletters also have an environmental and financial cost.

We appreciate that some people don’t have computers or internet access,  so we will still keep producing a paper version, but if possible we would like to send out an electronic version to as many members as possible.

We would like to know how many people would prefer to receive the Sheffield Friends of the Earth newsletter by email. Your comments on the following questions would be useful too.

Would you like the newsletter emailed to you or should we email a link to the web site where it can be downloaded?

The membership renewal process will become difficult by email. To simplify the process, do you think members should renew when the first newsletter of the new year is sent out? We could consider giving existing members who have just renewed a free year to compensate for the change.

Please send any comments to Shaun

RECENT EVENTS

• Attended a Climate Change demo in London
• Held a No M1 Widening Stall.
• Visited the Highways Agency to discuss the M1 widening issue.
• A group member was featured in the Guardian talking about M1 widening.
• Handed out more energy saving light bulbs at a stall on the Moor.
• Attended the annual local groups’ conference.
• Put climate change questions to the council via the Green Party councilor.
• Invited to several transport awards.
• Purchase new leaflet dispensers and leaflets.
• Protest against Onyx at the Recycling Awards.
• Contacted companies about the range of energy efficient light bulbs on sale.
• Updated the web site and produced a new newsletter.
• Sent letters to the Sheffield Star.

Parkwood Landfill Campaign

I’m writing to you on behalf of a group of local tenants, residents and businesses starting to feel and see the environmental impacts that landfill has on people, wildlife and industry.  Parkwood Springs Landfill Site is one of the largest landfill sites in Europe, situated near the heart of Sheffield, where large amounts of household and industrial wastes are deposited.  Local people complained so much about dust, odours, nuisance and health issues that a health survey was commissioned, though this is still not finished and many of the previously reported problems still keep reoccurring.

With all the aforementioned information we were astonished to learn, the Environment Agency granted a new permit allowing 650,000 tonnes of inert and active waste (incinerator ash and fine dust compounds, which can be treated toxic wastes) to be deposited per annum totalling 8,910,000 cubic metres.  This will produce a huge mountain of waste, which according to one spokesperson for Viridor the operators of Parkwood Springs Landfill Site will result in gas being released until 2046.  

Viridor have two planning applications 05/00956/FUL and 05/00959/FUL these are for a gas utilisation plant, leachate treatment plant (leachate is created when water runs through a landfill site) and expansion plans.  So far, we have collected over 2500 signatures, names and numerous objections and most are lodged with Mr V Faulkner at Howden House.

We know people want a reduction in landfill, so we must find alternatives for this to become reality and we are beginning a Green and Organic Waste Awareness Campaign.  30% of household waste is green and organic, so if every household recycles these types of waste in the many ways available that would mark a huge turnaround in attitudes and move a step closer towards making landfill and incineration redundant.

Many local authorities provide community-recycling points, though some go further by providing green bins or bags, for each household.  High quality compost can easily be made from green and organic waste, so people could start their own recycling scheme with the added benefits of lush gardens.  Compost bins can be purchased from most DIY stores and filled with: grass cuttings, leaves, cardboard, paper, fruit and vegetable peel, tea bags, rabbit and hamster droppings…  Maintenance is very low just requiring turning with a garden fork once a week and adding water if the heap appears dry.  There are a few items, which must not be added such as fish and meat, cooked foods, cat and dog droppings, exceptionally woody plants and oils.  The next time you have a cup of  tea or portion of vegetables please consider where the waste goes and encourage recycling. 

Best wishes and please email if you support our Green and Organic Waste Awareness Campaign.
Paul Antcliffe,

Parkwood Concerned Tenants, Residents and Businesses Group

News in Brief April 2005

The Big Screen
Members of Sheffield Friends of the Earth and The Green Party were interviewed for a film called Get Over It. The film was produced by a local non-profit film company and explained how communities were devastated by the economic collapse in the 80s. It then went on to show how economic regeneration schemes such as Meadowhall and large supermarket developments can destroy jobs. For more details see www.MediaActivist.com

Just the job
Have you come across the argument that if the proposed incinerator/runway/supermarket you are campaigning against is built, it will create lots of jobs? Or have you ever needed to demonstrate that an alternative sustainable development can create jobs? Our New Economics activity is working on some web pages to provide you with the arguments and case studies on jobs you need to back up your campaign demands.

In order to make this a useful tool we need your help. If you have any examples of job claims by companies, Government or local authorities, if you've submitted any consultation responses on a campaign which have used job arguments, or you have other information relating to employment and developments, then do please email job_args_info@foe.co.uk.

E-Newsletter
Sheffield Friends of the Earth’s Newsletters can now be accessed from our web site in full colour. The web site also provides links to Change Your World, the newsletter for local campaigners.

Electric Car
Our use of roads accounts for nearly a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we in the UK pump into the atmosphere contributing to climate change.  Feelings of guilt led me to ask myself what journeys I need the car for.  Most were about town so an exhaust free electric car was an ideal choice.  I am now the proud owner of a Reva G-wiz  from GoinGreen.  This is both the greenest and the cheapest car on the road.  It costs about 1p per mile to run and is exempt from road tax.  Now I can drive around Sheffield and not feel guilty about the fumes coming from my exhaust or causing climate change.  My electricity comes from a renewable energy supplier.  If you need to use a car about town, electric is the Way-To-Go. See Page 1 for photos
Maureen Edwards

Recent Events:

• Shaun was interviewed for a film and explained how large supermarkets can destroy communities.
• Maureen joined other green groups to protest against Onyx for handing out environmental awards.
• The web site has been redesigned.
• We received a letter from David Blunkett about pesticides. 
• Sent three letters to the Sheffield Star regarding climate change.
• Organised a stall in Sheffield City Centre handing out energy saving light bulbs.
• Displayed an electric car on Fargate as part of drive to educate people about climate change.
• Several members attended the Make Poverty History meetings.
• Group members have been involved with ACT.
• Helped a student journalist with a climate change interview. 
• Protested at the G8 meeting in Derby.

Sheffield Green Groups Protest at Onyx Award 2004

Members of Sheffield Friends of the Earth, Green Party and Greenpeace protested on Wednesday 1st December at the Sheffield Business Awards held at Ponds Forge. The protest was not against the awards but the acceptance of Onyx as sponsors of the Environmental award. Sponsors should be role models and none of the groups involved believe that Onyx qualify based on their track record in managing waste in the Sheffield.

Maureen Edwards, commented, “A company whose major treatment of waste is incineration cannot call itself ‘environmentally friendly’. Environmentally friendly waste collection organisations are making weekly doorstep collections of multi-material separated waste, thereby encouraging everyone to recycle rather than dispose of their waste. Onyx is actively polluting the city centre by burning unseparated waste and plans to import more unseparated waste from surrounding areas to fuel the incinerator. This will cause further pollution of our city even if our recycling rate rises. A company like Onyx should not be sponsoring the Sheffield Environment Awards.”

Waste News - January 2004

The Household Recycling Bill has now become an act of law. This victory ensures that every home in England will have at least 2 doorstep recycling facilities by 2010.

Members of Sheffield FoE were present at the recent campaign against the building of the incinerator. This event made front page news in the Sheffield Star and the Gazette.

Maureen has commented on the Regional Waste Strategy, and as a result, changes have been made to the document.  To publicise our success, a press release was printed in the Sheffield Star.

Another press release was issued on 11 September about Sheffield becoming the rubbish dump of South Yorkshire.

News in Brief - Spring 2003

Sheffield FoE produced an article on Zero Waste for the Sheffield Star which was published on 29th May.  See above. We also organised the Working Together Working Towards Zero Waste Public Meeting held on 19th May. See the article on page 2-3 for more details or visit our web site for the full minutes.

Maureen has been very busy commenting on the Yorkshire and Humber Waste Strategy in addition to the Sheffield First Draft Environment Strategy. She has also updated us about the Door Step Recycling Bill and has written a letter to councillors about the incinerator and Mechanical Biological Treatment. On Wednesday 2nd April Maureen Edwards gave a talk on Waste and Recycling to Sheffield University 'People and Planets' group. There were between 20-30 people there.

Shaun has been working on the campaigns to stop Asda building a new supermarket on Sheffield Wednesday’s training ground. He has also been involved with the campaign to stop Tesco building a supermarket in Hillsborough.  Sheffield FoE organised a meeting on Monday 16th June for local people fighting the Asda and Tesco supermarket developments in Hillsborough. Tim Sanders from Regional FoE attended the meeting with national FoE Real Food campaigner, Sandra Bell. Another meeting has been organised to fight these developments.

Just before going to press we were informed that Tesco have decided to withdraw their planning application.

More information and campaign details have been included on our web site.

What is Zero Waste?

The article below was written by Maureen Edwards for the Sheffield Star. It was published on Thursday 29th May 2003.

I am Maureen Edwards the Sheffield Friends of the Earth Waste Co-ordinator, talking about zero waste, an ideal that we should all be working towards. In everything we do we generate waste. Zero waste does not mean that we will no longer produce waste but that this is kept to a minimum and recycled or reused. Reducing the packaging on goods and ensuring those used can be recycled is one way forward.
The old fashioned paper bags, made from a renewable source (trees), and having the advantage of being easily recycled or biodegraded, are far more environmentally friendly than plastic. Plastic packaging varies so much in content it is difficult to manufacture a quality-recycled product from the mixed materials. Carrying shopping home in bags manufactured to last several years rather than days, would also reduce the amount of waste.

Why should we be bothered about achieving zero waste? At the moment we are using up the Earth's valuable resources at an alarming rate. The careless disposal of the resulting products is also causing problems. By taking steps to recycle these materials, not only are the disposal problems solved but some resources will be left for future generations. What right do we have to fritter away these valuable materials?

Kitchen and garden waste represent about 20% of household waste and can easily be composted to produce a rich soil dressing. The household collection of such waste is problematic but several areas have successfully set up systems. The new blue bin scheme presently being rolled out across the city by ONYX to recycle paper and card, is the first step forward towards zero waste. It is to be hoped that the scheme will quickly be developed to include cans, glass, plastics, fabrics and kitchen and garden waste. Once a quality weekly doorstep recycling service has been set up, the collection of other 'residual' waste can be reduced to fortnightly. By using this system, recycling rates of about 30% can be very easily achieved.

Waste strategies should be flexible to allow for changes in legislation. Legislation can help ensure that everyone plays their part in reducing waste, so we need to be able to respond to new laws. Large scale, mass burn incinerators such as the one planned at Bernard Road, are too inflexible and long term. The mechanical biological treatment of mixed waste is far more flexible and ensures recycling of a far higher proportion of the residual waste. Although ideally recycling at source is preferable, until a high quality doorstep recycling service is available to the citizens of Sheffield, mechanical biological treatment of waste is the safest option. The incinerator may well become uneconomic to run in about 10 years due to European anti-incineration legislation.

As an individual with a wish to work towards zero waste, you will already be recycling a great deal of household waste and hopefully be able to compost kitchen and garden waste. Any large items will be disposed of through charities such as RECLAIM. You take your own bags when you go shopping and do not buy products with too much packaging. You are helping to reduce Sheffield's waste disposal bill and protecting our environment.

Working Together - Working Towards Zero Waste

This public meeting was organised by Sheffield Friends of the Earth as part of Sheffield Environment Weeks. The aim of the meeting was to seek positives ways of improving waste management in Sheffield. Representatives of National and Regional Friends of the Earth, waste management companies, and local political parties were invited to attend and speak.

Anna Watson, waste campaigner, spoke for the national organisation, Tim Sander, regional co-ordinator, spoke for Yorkshire and Humber Friends of the Earth, Bernard Little spoke for the Green Party, and Peter Lowe spoke for CPS CiVic. The meeting was also attended by Jackie Field (Council Advisor for Waste and Recycling), Cllr Terry Barrow, Rachel Wileman (Sheffield First for the Environment), Kevin Hurst (ONYX), and Mike Doherty (Sheffield City Council).

Anna Watson, National Friends of the Earth Waste Campaigner 
Nationally Friends of the Earth are calling upon local authorities to produce a strategy aspiring towards zero waste and to aim to recycle 50% of municipal waste by 2010. They should support local schemes, such as nappy washing services and composting bins, and lead by example, by reducing, reusing and recycling council waste. Friends of the Earth estimate that 80% of municipal waste is recyclable or compostable, yet in Sheffield we are currently recycling only 5% of our waste according to the latest Audit Commission data. Daventry Council recycle 44% of their waste.

Tim Sander, Yorkshire & Humber Friends of the Earth
Yorkshire & Humber is the second poorest performing region in the country for recycling – only 10% is currently recycled. The Regional Assembly has recently consulted on a draft Waste Strategy, "Let’s take it from the tip", for managing the 3.5 million tonnes of waste produced annually in the region. This strategy may be affected by the recent decision to refuse planning permission for a new incinerator in Hull. Planning permission for a new, larger incinerator at Bernard Road in Sheffield was recently granted.

Bernard Little, Sheffield Green Party
Bath has recently become the first local authority to adopt a zero waste strategy. This has involved establishing kerbside collection of paper, compost, cardboard, glass and plastics. This shows what forward-thinking local authorities are aspiring towards

The City Council’s decision to sign a contract locking themselves into a 28-year strategy dependent upon incineration means that we are starting from a very unpromising situation. Nevertheless, the Green Party is keen to begin a constructive dialogue with Sheffield City Council and calls for the Council to establish a recycling monitoring group to oversee promotion of recycling schemes.

Tim Sander, Regional FoE Speaking at the meeting

   











Peter Lowe, CPS CiVic
The CiVic system is a recent innovation the can manage either segregated or unsegregated household waste. It is already established an operating in Durham. Waste is stored in a series of vats, where a process of aerobic digestion, promoted by agitation and aeration, produces a temperature of 60-70 degrees centigrade. This results in extremely rapid composting of biodegradable waste. Recyclable material, such as metals, are then removed resulting in 60% of waste being recycled after segregation. The residual waste is landfilled.
This system won the 2002 Composting Association Award for Innovation. A model of the system was displayed in the hall to demonstrate how the system works. Interested parties were invited to visit the plant in Durham.

Comments from the audience
In response to a question regarding the opportunity to comment on the Sheffield Waste Strategy, Mike Doherty suggested that this should be done by lobbying elected Councillors.

Jackie Field commented that:
Sheffield City Council had a long way to go but were committed to waste reduction and recycling.
The recycling targets were small, but the Council should achieve and exceed these targets.
Dialogue with voluntary organisations should be improved.
This process will take time and require education of people – including Councillors and Council Officers

In response to a question regarding Daventry Council’s achievements, Anna Watson replied that this was mainly through composting and public consultation, such as using questionnaires to identify barriers to recycling. Daventry welcome visitors who wish to learn from their experience.
Signing up to prevent junk mail being delivered is a good way of preventing waste.

Terry Barrow commented that:
Voluntary groups could join the Waste Management Liaison Group of Sheffield First for the Environment
Concerned members of the public should attend Area Panels to make their views known
She opposed the use of charging for excess waste as this could lead to dumping of waste in areas where the public cannot afford to pay

Kevin Hurst expressed regret that he had not offered to speak at the meeting because he could provide many examples of how ONYX were promoting positive approaches to waste management.

Conclusion
Unfortunately the meeting ended without formal thanks being passed on to the speakers and the representatives of organisations who attended the meeting. However, Steve Goodacre, on behalf of Sheffield Friends on the Earth, was able to pass on our gratitude to these people for giving up their time.
There was a general agreement that, despite differences of opinion regarding the position that Sheffield currently finds itself in, we need to work together to gain public support and acceptance for reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Door Step Recycling – One Step Closer

Late last year 20 MPs were given the chance of each introducing a Bill to Parliament. Friends of the Earth decided to ask the MPs to adopt the Door Step Recycling Bill. If passed as a new law it would see the introduction of special bins at each home in the country for collecting different recyclable materials.

As Richard Allan Lib Dem MP for Sheffield Hallam was one of the selected twenty, several local group members wrote letters asking for his support. Richard replied to Sheffield Friends of the Earth with a positive and encouraging letter. A copy of the Richard Allan’s letter is available on our website at:
mysite.freeserve.com/sheffieldfoe

The Bill was actually introduced to Parliament by Joan Ruddock Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford so Richard Allan was able to vote for a different Bill. In January, Friends of the Earth will be doing more lobbying work to get the Bill passed as a new Law.

Door Step Recycling Facts:

A majority of 330 MPs signed EDM 186 and EDM 46 in support of doorstep recycling nation-wide
9/10 people in England and Wales would recycle if it was made easier an Environment Agency survey revealed in May this year

The expansion of recycling would provide tens of thousands of jobs, reduce demand for raw materials, cut emissions of Greenhouse gases and reduce pressure for unpopular and environmentally damaging new landfill sites and incinerators. It would also mean we could catch up with recycling levels of our European neighbours.

The Doorstep Recycling Bill, sponsored by Joan Ruddock MP, calls for local authorities to provide a doorstep recycling and composting service to every household by 2010 and for more money to provide this service. The Bill is essential to increase our recycling rate from a miserable 12% to the 50% already achieved by many European countries

It has the support of a majority of MPs, 150 local authorities and over100 organisations, including Friends of the Earth, the Community Recycling Network, Greenpeace, Help the Aged and Unison. The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published its review of the current waste strategy in November 2002. The review provides a welcome boost to waste minimisation and recycling but it fails on several accounts:            

1. It does not put a brake on the building of massive incinerator
2. It does not provide enough money for recycling.
3. It does not set a statutory target of 50% recycling by 2010

April 2003 - Campaign News

Sheffield FoE joined other environmental and anti-war groups on Saturday 14th December to protest outside the Esso Petrol station on Penistone Road, Hillsborough. The campaign to boycott Esso is due to their reluctance to reduce greenhouse gasses and their desire to obtain Iraq’s oil supplies. 

Sheffield Friends of the Earth activists have been taking to the small screen to promote our cause (and our ego’s, of course). Liddy Goyder starred on Look North last September, cycling from Crookesmoor to the City Hall as part of the Pedal Pushers Commuter challenge. She helped to prove that two wheels beat four (almost) every time and that cycling is for civilised women, not just men in lycra.

On Sunday 15th December, Maureen from the local group appeared on the ITV1 national political program, Jonathan Dimbleby to debate why the government's decision to widen the M1 motorway near Chesterfield was a waste of money and why it would create more congestion.

On Tuesday 17th December several very dedicated local and national FoE campaigners protested outside Sheffield’s Train Station from 7.30 am until 9.30 am to raise awareness of the regional rail franchise issues and  to campaign for a better rail system. See the main article on page 2 for more details.

Just before Christmas, four local group members organised a FoE stall at the Sheffield Peace Fair to raise awareness of the group and our campaigns and to raise some money.

Members of Sheffield FoE have taken action to help get the Doorstep Recycling Bill into parliament. Read more about this on page 2.

Greenpeace activists were cleared of damaging the Sheffield Incinerator.

On Thursday 28 November, around 30 members of Sheffield FoE, Greenpeace, Sheffield Green Party and RABID protested outside the Business Awards as Onyx were presenting an award for the environment.

Local Group members have replied to the City Centre and M1 Air quality questionnaires.

More information and campaign details have been included on our web site.

Waste Training Day

A dull November morning saw a Sheffield Friends of the Earth member make her way to Birmingham to receive up to the minute information about waste disposal.

The initial address was about International and European legislation and its bearing on the situation in U.K.  The Earth Summit included a paragraph (Point 22) about waste, to the effect that Governments should act to develop systems to prevent, minimise, reuse and recycle waste.  Environmentally sound disposal facilities should be used but unfortunately this, according to the agreement, includes technology to recapture the energy contained in waste.  The production of reusable consumer goods and biodegradable products is to be encouraged.

The main piece of legislation affecting U.K. policy at the moment is the European Union Landfill Directive the gist of which is that by 2020, 66% of biodegradable waste (garden, food and paper waste etc) should not be taken to landfill sites.  Instead it should be composted rather than incinerated.  This means that nearly all local authorities will have to have separate biodegradable waste collections by 2010. 

The East Midlands Waste Strategy plans to incinerate 50% of household waste and use all the resulting bottom ash to make construction materials.  This is not good news as it is assuming that only 50% of the rest of waste will be recycled.  Incineration contracts tie Local Authorities to providing waste to burn for 20 or more years. 

Friends of the Earth is certain higher recycling targets can be achieved:- 50% by 2010 and 75% by 2015.  Daventry in Northamptonshire already achieves almost 50%.  The first step to increasing recycling rates is to provide a doorstep recycling service.  Friends of the Earth are currently trying to get the Doorstep Recycling Bill through parliament.  This will make it compulsory for all Local Authorities to provide a recycling bin as well as the ordinary waste bin.  Reducing the size of the ordinary bin also reduces the amount of unrecycled (i.e. residual) waste.  Once all these services are in place, charging for residual waste can begin, which further increases recycling rates.  Friends of the Earth recommends that the remaining residual waste should undergo mechanical biological treatment (MBT).  This process separates recyclable materials mechanically and puts the mixed waste containing biodegradable material through a composting process to produce a stabilised material.  This can then be landfilled.  Local Authorities should find MBT an attractive technology as it is a small scale process that is cheaper than pyrolysis.

As items are manufactured more carefully with recycling in mind, the amount of waste needing to be landfilled will approach zero.  For a sustainable future all Regional Waste Strategies should be aspiring to ‘zero waste’.

More information about the Waste Campaign can be found on the Friends of the Earth website at www.foe.co.uk