MoreThanWaste.com - Increased recycling rates come at expense of prevention at source (20/02/2008)

"Recycling plays its part in shifting attitudes towards reuse but creating a product for de-manufacture is environmentally and economically inferior to creating a product for remanufacture. Remanufacture preserves the embedded value of a product and conserves scarce resources"

David Parker from the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse

London: Waste prevention, remanufacture and improved waste legislation are the future of waste management according to speakers at the recent ACR+ and London Remade conference on waste and climate change.

ACR+ is leading a European campaign for waste reduction which is based on reducing municipal waste by 100kg per person per year. It concentrates on the four waste streams of organics, paper, packaging and bulky wastes and estimates an associated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 160kg per person per year.

At the conference, Remi Guillet from the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development in France argued that the non-production rather than the treatment of waste is the key to tackling the effect of waste on climate change. He said:

"In Paris, 10% of the carbon emissions emitted from the city's waste are as a result of its treatment. The remaining 90% is a result of producing the product in the first
place."

Monsieur Guillet claimed that recycling is a step to sustainable development rather than a solution. He warned that increased recycling rates come at the expense of prevention at source.

Delegates were warned that increased recycling rates come at the expense of prevention at source

David Parker from the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse supported this approach and claimed that recycling alone will not achieve the Government's target of a 60% reduction of 2000 carbon emissions by 2050.

Placing emphasis on remanufacture rather than demanufacture, he said:

"Suppliers must sell the longevity of a product and offer servicing and upgrades throughout its lifecycle, including remanufacture. Companies such as Caterpillar have demonstrated this approach is commercially viable and other iconic brands must follow."

Mr Parker called for a national standard for remanufactured products alongside improved return channels for consumers, which he considers are not being met by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Joint organiser London Remade, was set-up as a not for profit business, limited by guarantee in 2001. The company stimulates markets for materials, reprocessing, collection and green procurement in the waste and recycling industry with the ultimate aim of tackling London’s waste problem, where 19 million tonnes are produced each year.

Peter Head, director of Arup, speaking at the conference, called for a move towards sustainable development to help tackle climate change. He pointed to the success of the Shanghai, Dongtan eco-city control plan where resource management will reduce the potential ecological footprint for citizens to 2.6 global hectares per person, compared to 5.5 in Shanghai. Energy from waste accounts for 20% of the total all-renewable supply and buildings are designed to use 65% less energy. He said:

"We must fast track technologies being used in Asia and China."

Commentsfrom the organisers

Daniel Silverstone, chief executive of London Remade who organised the conference, commented:

"New approaches to waste management can only complement recycling. The challenges are clear: avoiding escalating landfill taxes, creating economic value from our waste and tackling climate change."

Jean-Pierre Hannequart, ACR+ president, concluded:

"There are strong arguments to transform our dumping society into a recycling and prevention-oriented society associated with a high level of dematerialisation. This is a matter for politicians and technicians as well as citizens.

"A lot remains to be done to assess the potential for reuse and prevention initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a follow-up to the conference, ACR+ aims to set up a group of experts on C02 to support the ACR+ campaign on waste reduction.”

Further information

Those with an interest in this topic, are invited to contact the ACR+
Secretariat at info@acrplus.org."

For further information on the ACR+ European campaign for waste reduction, visit
http://www.acrplus.org/-kg .

London Remade:
http://www.londonremade.com .


	Increased recycling rates come at expense of prevention at source (20/02/2008) "Recycling plays its part in shifting attitudes towards reuse but creating a product for de-manufacture is environmentally and economically inferior to creating a product for remanufacture. Remanufacture preserves the embedded value of a product and conserves scarce resources" David Parker from the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse London: Waste prevention, remanufacture and improved waste legislation are the future of waste management according to speakers at the recent ACR+ and London Remade conference on waste and climate change. ACR+ is leading a European campaign for waste reduction which is based on reducing municipal waste by 100kg per person per year. It concentrates on the four waste streams of organics, paper, packaging and bulky wastes and estimates an associated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 160kg per person per year. At the conference, Remi Guillet from the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development in France argued that the non-production rather than the treatment of waste is the key to tackling the effect of waste on climate change. He said: "In Paris, 10% of the carbon emissions emitted from the city's waste are as a result of its treatment. The remaining 90% is a result of producing the product in the first place." Monsieur Guillet claimed that recycling is a step to sustainable development rather than a solution. He warned that increased recycling rates come at the expense of prevention at source. Delegates were warned that increased recycling rates come at the expense of prevention at source David Parker from the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse supported this approach and claimed that recycling alone will not achieve the Government's target of a 60% reduction of 2000 carbon emissions by 2050. Placing emphasis on remanufacture rather than demanufacture, he said: "Recycling plays its part in shifting attitudes towards reuse but creating a product for de-manufacture is environmentally and economically inferior to creating a product for remanufacture. Remanufacture preserves the embedded value of a product and conserves scarce resources. "Suppliers must sell the longevity of a product and offer servicing and upgrades throughout its lifecycle, including remanufacture. Companies such as Caterpillar have demonstrated this approach is commercially viable and other iconic brands must follow." Mr Parker called for a national standard for remanufactured products alongside improved return channels for consumers, which he considers are not being met by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. Joint organiser London Remade, was set-up as a not for profit business, limited by guarantee in 2001. The company stimulates markets for materials, reprocessing, collection and green procurement in the waste and recycling industry with the ultimate aim of tackling London’s waste problem, where 19 million tonnes are produced each year. Peter Head, director of Arup, speaking at the conference, called for a move towards sustainable development to help tackle climate change. He pointed to the success of the Shanghai, Dongtan eco-city control plan where resource management will reduce the potential ecological footprint for citizens to 2.6 global hectares per person, compared to 5.5 in Shanghai. Energy from waste accounts for 20% of the total all-renewable supply and buildings are designed to use 65% less energy. He said: "We must fast track technologies being used in Asia and China." Commentsfrom the organisers Daniel Silverstone, chief executive of London Remade who organised the conference, commented: "New approaches to waste management can only complement recycling. The challenges are clear: avoiding escalating landfill taxes, creating economic value from our waste and tackling climate change." Jean-Pierre Hannequart, ACR+ president, concluded: "There are strong arguments to transform our dumping society into a recycling and prevention-oriented society associated with a high level of dematerialisation. This is a matter for politicians and technicians as well as citizens. "A lot remains to be done to assess the potential for reuse and prevention initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a follow-up to the conference, ACR+ aims to set up a group of experts on C02 to support the ACR+ campaign on waste reduction.” Further information Those with an interest in this topic, are invited to contact the ACR+ Secretariat at info@acrplus.org." For further information on the ACR+ European campaign for waste reduction, visit http://www.acrplus.org/-kg . London Remade: http://www.londonremade.com .