WEBSITES

The Campaign for Real Recycling

The Campaign for Real Recycling wants central government and local authorities to act urgently to improve the quality of materials collected for recycling in the UK.   The Campaign has been formed by members of the UK's leading materials re-processors, the community recycling sector and Friends of the Earth.

Real recycling is about maximising the economic, environmental and social benefits of recycling for everyone, from the local council tax payer to the re-processing industry. Their concern is that collection systems that gather a range of different materials in one bag or bin and then compact them could permanently undermine the environmental and financial benefits of recycling.

The campaign aims to influence local authority policy and practice, and build consensus within the UK of the economic and environmental importance of highly separated collections.

More info:   http://www.realrecycling.org.uk

Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government has a vision of confident, vibrant, sustainable communities where everyone has a say in shaping their environment. Communities and Local Government's vision is of prosperous and cohesive communities, offering a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for all
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/

Centre for Sustainable Energy
Promotes sustainable energy policy & practice. Provides research, evaluation and analysis of relevant policy, regulation and practice , useful reports on energy and sustainability can be downloaded from this site

http://www.cse.org.uk/

Business waste advice
The website covers issues such as preventing and dealing with fly-tipping, advice on reducing waste and advice from regulators like the Environment Agency on waste legislation.  The website is funded by Defra's Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme and operated by the Environment Agency under its Waste Crime project.

www.wastematters.org.uk

Valpak's website recycle-more.co.uk has launched a section dedicated to waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It aims to provide consumer WEEE recycling information for the Valpak Distributor Take Back Scheme (DTS). Link to site

Online Recycling Information System (ORIS)
ORIS is an innovative series of interactive and searchable maps relating to local authority recycling performance in the UK. These maps help to identify local authorities operating similar kerbside collection schemes across the UK and gain an understanding of the relative performance of different types of schemes and material types.
http://www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities/
online_recycling_information_system_oris/index.html

Charity trading guidance
The Charities Commission has published an updated guidance which sets out how to ensure your charity trades effectively and within the law. CC35 - Trustees, trading and tax how charities may lawfully trade
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc35.asp

Poverty indicators
This site monitors what is happening to poverty and social exclusion in the UK. The material is organised around 50 statistical indicators covering all aspects of the subject, from income and work to health and education. The material covers all parts of the United Kingdom, with specific sections for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
http://www.poverty.org.uk/intro/index.htm

Greenvoice
An online social network for green living and campaigning. One of their key aims is to make it possible for individuals to take action on environmental issues they care about by setting up, joining or contributing to environmental campaigns
http://www.greenvoice.com/

CO2 calculator
An online calculator that enables people to work out their personal carbon footprint using government-recognised data and calculations.   Looking at home energy, appliances and transport etc it then creates a personalised action plan for users, with steps they can take to cut their emissions.
Calculator: http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html
The UK Government website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

Performance Hub
Six national hubs of expertise funded by Capacitybuilders through the ChangeUp programme helping voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations achieve more. General information and publications available.
http://www.performancehub.org.uk/

New Community RePaint website
The new website contains lots more information and it is now easy to find your nearest scheme.
http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk/

USEFUL URLS

Charity Commission Website
Visit this website to access all sorts of downloadable guidance on running a charity. The revised text for Charities and Contracts is being updated in January so should be available soon.
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/ccpubs3.asp

Office of the Third Sector (OTS)
Update on third sector related policy developments.
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

Toolkits & good practice
Toolkits & good practice guidance on recycling for Local Authorities also useful reference material for the community sector.
http://www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities/
toolkits_good_practice/index.html