CONSULTATIONS

British Retail Consortium and WRAP Consultation on standardised recycling labelling
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have launched a consultation with Government, Local Authorities, manufacturers and retailers to make sure the standardised
recycling labelling for packaging scheme has widespread acceptance. BRC is proposing packaging will be divided into three categories from 'widely recycled' to 'not currently recycled', depending on how likely it is a
customer's local authority will accept the material.

http://www.brc.org.uk/details04.asp?id=1278

Petition: Charity exemption from VAT
Charities incur substantial amounts of tax when they spend the money that is generously donated to them. This is because the VAT system, which is based on the EU's Sixth VAT Directive, treats charities as the final consumer - even when they are not. A new petition has been set up on the Downing Street website calling for charities to be exempt from all Value Added Tax (VAT).
http://www.ctrg.org.uk/home

REPORTS

Win-win

The National Housing Federation and The Furniture Re-use Network have produced this new booklet outlining how social landlords and their tenants can reap enormous benefits by teaming up with a local furniture re-use organisation.

http://www.frn.org.uk/publications.asp

Charity Forecast: a quarterly survey of sector leaders

Are you a chief executive, a director or a trustee of a charity?   NCVO is inviting voluntary sector leaders to give their views on the health and prospects of their organisations in its new confidence and trends survey.  'Charity Forecast: a quarterly survey of sector leaders' is the first survey of its kind in the sector, and is designed to provide voluntary organisations with valuable information that they can use in their planning processes

http://www.ncvo-consult.org.uk/survey.asp?s=01249004220084206

Charity Pulse - Work-life survey launched online

Third Sector's second annual survey into the quality of working life in the voluntary sector will look into the issues of bullying, trustee effectiveness and environmental impact for the first time. Sector employees are asked

for their views on things that affect their working lives. This includes work-life balance, how rewarding it is to work for a charity, employers' communication skills and people management. Results are confidential

Deadline: 25 April

www.bird-song.co.uk/charitypulse.html

Social Enterprise Action Plan Scaling New Heights - Cabinet office of the Third Sector

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
se_action_plan_2006.pdf

The Rules of Thumb Guide, Calculating & declaring recycled content in construction products - WRAP

This guide will help manufacturers of products containing recycled content to accurately calculate and declare the amount of recycled content. This in turn will be useful for the building industry when wishing to select products with higher recycled content.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/construction_procurement/
tools_publications/index.html

Changing the Way We Work guide for voluntary sector - Every Action Counts

The Every Action Counts Consortium have published 'Changing the Way We Work', a guide for the voluntary and community sector on how your organisation can change how it works in ways that will benefit your environment and save you money.

http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/guides/greenofficev1.pdf

Community Money Matters

In co-operation with CASH (Community Accountancy Self Help) Community Matters have produced this comprehensive guide to financial management and accounting for small charities and community organisations. It has been written by Paul Boielle, who is one of CASH's Community Accountants and is also a trustee and treasurer of a Community Association. The book is available as a free download.

http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/resources/docs/Moneymatters.pdf

Briefing note on local government National Indicator 7 'An environment for a thriving third sector'

The Office of the Third Sector has published a briefing note to provide Local Strategic Partnerships (local public, private and third sector representatives) with more information and guidance on National Indicator 7 - 'An environment for a thriving third sector'.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/
news_stories/080229_nibriefing.aspx

What a Waste! Surplus Fresh Foods Research Project - S.C.R.A.T.C.H

This study investigates the issue of surplus fresh food, exploring the position in the waste hierarchy that products get classed as waste.

http://www.veoliatrust.org/docs/Surplus_Food_Research.pdf

Managing Your Community Building - Community Matters

A practical handbook for people running buildings in local communities. The book is a very useful guide to running a community building; however some of the legal information will now be out of date. Members are advised to consult the information sheets (also available on the website) for up to date information on individual topics.

http://www.communitymatters.org.uk/membership/docs/
community%20buildings%203ed.pdf

Using Quality Compost to benefit Crops - WRAP

Farmers and growers can find out more about the benefits of quality compost, thanks to a new booklet launched today by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). It provides comprehensive information about the many benefits of using and applying quality BSI PAS 100 compost made from garden and food waste.

www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/news/wrap_launches_28.html

Buying packs from furniture projects - CRNS

Scottish Community Recycling Network (CRNS) toolkit provides information on furniture projects, the different types of packs they provide and the various methods of purchasing packs, including Service Level Agreements, contracts and Public Social Partnerships. Some of the information may not be relevant outside Scotland.

http://www.crns.org.uk/index/publications

Waste Strategy for England 2007
The Government published Waste Strategy for England 2007 on 24 May 2007; it sets out their vision for sustainable waste management.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/index.htm

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill. It seeks to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment, and by obliging distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.

BERR has published specific guidance for local authorities, producer compliance schemes, distributors, re-use and refurbishment organisations, and approved authorised treatment facilities to explain their roles within the WEEE system.

http://www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/
weee/page30269.html

Factsheets on WEEE explaining the obligations for producers, distributors, approved exporters, treatment facilities, business users and consumers

http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee
/Factsheets/page41148.html

The Department of Work and Pensions commissioning strategy interim report
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) published their commissioning strategy in November 2007 - an interim report, which outlines the emerging thinking, for changes to the way in which employment support is delivered. The strategy follows the consultation on the Green Paper ‘In work, better off’
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/
com-strategy/cs-interim-report-07.pdf

Kitchen Waste Composting Trial – end of trial report
A report on the two-year food waste trial which involved 7,569 houses in Preston's Deepdale and Tulketh area.
A partnership between Lancashire County Council, Preston city council and the Lancashire Environmental Fund.

Business Link Social Enterprise Guide
The government’s Business Link agency has produced a guide which aims to explain the reasons why you might consider setting up a social enterprise and the benefits of doing so. It will also look at some of the issues you will need to think about and will give examples of existing social enterprises working in the commercial and public sector environments.

www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/
layer?r.l1=1073858805&topicId=1079870761&r.l2=1073859137

UK Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac 2007
This publication is produced in partnership between NCVO and the UK Workforce Hub and represents one of the first outputs of a voluntary sector workforce research programme.

http://www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/

Government Consultation Report
The Government’s response to the consultation on Effective Consultation. A new Code of Practice is still to be developed but the response has taken on board the criticisms voiced by many organisations which regularly respond to Government consultations.

http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/documents/
consultation/pdf/gov_response_071207.pdf

The New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Single Set of National Indicators
The new national indicator set for local authorities and local authority partnerships. The new national indicators will be the only means of measuring national priorities that have been agreed by Government. The number of national indicators has been radically reduced, from the around 1200 that local authorities and their partners report on at present, to 198. The headline definitions for the 198 are contained in the document.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/
localgovernment/nationalindicator

Municipal waste arisings and management
The total amount of collected municipal waste has increased to an estimated 29.1 million tonnes in England in 2006/07 compared to 28.7 million tonnes in 2005/06, an increase of 1.4 per cent.  The average annual increase in municipal waste from 2001/02 to 2006/07 was 0.2 per cent. In total, 41.8 per cent (12.2 million tonnes) of municipal waste had some sort of value (recycling, composting, energy from waste and fuel manufacture) recovered from it in 2006/07, a rise from 37.2 per cent (10.7 million tonnes) in 2005/06.

The proportion of municipal waste being recycled or composted increased from 27.1 per cent in 2005/06 to 30.7 per cent in 2006/07. The proportion of waste incinerated with energy recovery increased from 10 per cent in 2005/06 to 11 per cent in 2006/07. The proportion of municipal waste being disposed of in landfill has continued to decrease from 62 per cent in 2005/06 to 58 per cent in 2006/07.

The actual tonnage of municipal waste disposed of in landfill has also decreased again from 17.9 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 16.9 million tonnes in 2006/07.

Household waste and recycling
In 2006/07, household sources accounted for 89 per cent of municipal waste, 25.9 million tonnes, which equates to around 509 kg of household waste per person per annum. 

The amount of waste collected from household sources increased by 1.6 per cent in 2006/7, from 25.5 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 25.9 million tonnes in 2006/07.  The average annual change in total household waste over the last five years is 0.3 per cent.

The proportion of household waste recycled (including composting) has continued to increase, rising from 26.7 per cent in 2005/06 to 30.9 per cent in 2006/07. This increase in the national recycling rate of 4.2 percentage points is the same as the growth rate achieved last year.  

In absolute terms the amount of household waste sent for recycling or composting has increased by 17 per cent, from 6.8 million tonnes in 2005/06 to 8.0 million tonnes in 2006/07.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/
wastats/index.htm

Third Sector Review
The conclusion of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), published on 9 October 2007, confirms the resources available to the Office of the Third Sector to implement the policy programmes originally set out in the third sector review. It also outlines how the third sector contributes to the delivery of key priority outcomes through the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) framework.

Over the period of the spending review (2008-11), the Office of the Third Sector will invest over £515 million in third sector programmes.
£80 million small grants programme for community action and voice
£50 million local endowment match fund, which will enable local independent foundations to develop community endowments to provide sustainability in future grant making
£117 million of new resources available for youth volunteering, through the organisation
£85 million for Capacitybuilders, for third sector infrastructure development
£65 million for Futurebuilders
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/
third_sector_review/csr.aspx
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spending_review/
spend_csr07/spend_csr07_index.cfm

CIWM Health & Safety Scoping Study
This report presents the finding of a scoping study undertaken to gauge the existing H & S awareness and competence in the sector: exploring current approaches and initiatives, their relative successes, and identifying gaps and weaknesses to inform the direction of the Initiative in the future.

http://www.ciwm.co.uk/mediastore/FILES/15584.pdf

Residual Waste Research – Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth (FoE) have just published a report which analyses what materials are likely to be in residual municipal waste after high levels of reuse, recycling and composting. The research, carried out by EnviroCentre Consultants, found that a large reduction in residual wastes could potentially be achieved by improving capture rates, and through addressing some specific high-tonnage waste streams.

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/residual_waste.pdf

New rules for non-hazardous waste
From 30 October this year new rules apply for non-hazardous waste. Liquid wastes are banned from landfill and other waste must be treated before it can be landfilled. Factsheets, briefings and guidance to help businesses meet the changes:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business
/1745440/444663/landfill/

Fact sheet for general business

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk
/pdf/GEHO0507BMQM-e-e.pdf

Volunteering Works
This report providing overwhelming evidence that volunteering affects key areas of government policy has been launched by Volunteering England. This publication from the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR), brings together for the first time the best evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of volunteering in five key policy areas: development; safer and stronger communities; social inclusion; quality of life and lifelong learning.
http://www.volunteering.org.uk

Health & safety training: guidelines for the waste and recycling industry
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste21.pdf

This 'good practice' guidance was written in consultation with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH). It does not aim to be comprehensive but gives examples of good practice within the industry. It is for managers and those organising training within the waste management and recycling industry.

The HSE document sets out guidelines on the basic requirements for training in five key areas:

. slips, trips and falls

. personal protective equipment

. manual handling

. workplace transport

. legislation and responsibilities

Defra waste and resources research programme
A waste and resources evidence programme to help deliver the Government's ambitious waste policies has been outlined by Defra. The Waste and Resources Evidence Strategy 2007-2011 summarises the key areas where research will be commissioned and evidence sought over the next few years. The programme will inform delivery of the Government's Waste Strategy for England 2007, published in May, which set out priorities on waste prevention, minimisation, recycling, recovery, and energy production.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070919a.htm

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste
/wip/research/index.htm

Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2007
DEFRA latest published figures on UK's 'environmental, social and economic wellbeing. Covers a range of issues including health, housing, jobs, crime, education and the environment.

http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
/progress/data-resources/documents/sdiyp2007_a6.pdf

Local environmental quality survey - DEFRA
The first part of a survey assessing the quality of the local environment across England has been published.

The survey gives detailed information on the performance of 174 local authority areas on the management of key street-level environmental problems including litter, fly tipping, fly-posting and graffiti.

The aim is to provide a picture for local residents on how their area is shaping up and to enable local authorities to target their resources more effectively. Results for the remaining 179 English local authority areas will be published next year. The local level survey builds on the existing national survey, which is carried out for Defra annually by ENCAMS.

http://www.direct.gov.uk