PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:

15 November 2006

Community Waste Sector launches comprehensive  Information Website

The Community Waste Information Centre[1] is a website for anyone within or dealing with the Community Waste Sector[2].

www.communitywaste.org.uk  is a portal website linking you to everything you need to know about the community waste sector.  It includes links to information about::

* setting up and running a community waste organisation
* partnership working between community organisations, the public and private sectors
* relevant networks and community waste organisations
* important strategic information on waste and the third sector
* useful ways to keep up-to-date on waste and related issues
* links to events listings, training and volunteering opportunities

The website has been put together as part of the Community Waste Regional Development Programme[3] and supported by the Defra Community Sector Support Programme[4].

John Burns, Defra´s Waste Implementation Programme Director commented: "The Community Waste Sector plays a crucial role in reducing, re-using and recycling of resources and we support the continuing development of the work and extension of their partnerships with the public and private sectors.   We are pleased that the Regional Programme has been able to commission this useful website as part of its support for the community waste sector.  It is a visible example of the success of this programme.  This website is a good starting point for any community waste organisation or local authority wanting to work with the sector."

Naomi Johnson, Regional Programme Development Manager, explained "We have identified the need to bring together in one place valuable information about  the community waste sector in order that collaboration with our sector is easier for both local authorities and private businesses.  The site will also act as a tool for community waste practitioners by drawing together support information to enable improved management and increased knowledge."

Ms Johnson continued. "Whilst aiming the site at organisations, local authorities and businesses, we know that the public is keen to work and be part of the reuse and recycling solutions at local community level, so the website includes links with information for individuals and organisations looking for local recyclers.   Visitors to the website can let us know their views on the site and advise us of any further additions.  We look forward to this feedback and would recommend that everyone visits www.communitywaste.org.uk website."

-END-

Notes to Editors

Contacts:  Naomi Johnson or Frances Robertson on 0117 942 0142 e-mail: info@communitywaste.org.uk

[1] The Community Waste Information Centre website can be found at www.communitywaste.org.uk

[2] The community waste sector is extremely diverse, comprising local community groups, charities, community-based waste management companies and other not- for-profit and social enterprises all contributing to delivering and promoting sustainable waste management.

The community waste sector also provides both permanent and voluntary employment to a wide range of social groups. Community waste sector organisations work at grassroots, local authority, regional and national levels delivering a huge variety of services to communities through reduction, reuse, recycling and composting projects.

In particular, the community waste sector is able to assist local authorities in meeting their household waste recycling and composting targets, whilst providing additional local community benefits and successfully delivers the triple bottom line:
* income and profits are retained and invested in the local economy
* social benefits include work and training opportunities, affordable goods and services and infrastructure improvements for people in local communities
* environmentally, schemes reduce CO2 emissions and the amount of local pollution caused by long-distance waste management activities

[3] The Regional Development Programme is part of the wider Community Sector Support Programme funded by UK Government´s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).   Bringing together key community waste sector partners this programme is managed by the Community Recycling Network UK (CRN UK) in conjunction with the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN), the Community Composting Network (CCN) and London CRN.  Support teams have been established in the North West, South West, Yorkshire & the Humber and the East of England to support sustainable waste management in the community sector and work with existing networks. 

[4] The regional development programme is part of the wider Community Sector Support Programme funded by UK Government´s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). More information on the CSSP is available on the DEFRA website -http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/community/index.htm