Reducing waste

Since April 2008 we have been gradually integrating waste advice into our advice offering - firstly via four pilot advice centres in the North East, Northern Ireland, London and Wales, and then across the network. We have worked with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Plan) to develop our waste services, and are working closely to ensure that our joint activity is effective and adds value to our customers.

By the end of March 2009 we will have rolled out waste training to the rest of the network in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, a similar waste pilot approach is being investigated with local partners.
An evaluation of the integration of waste into our offering will be completed by the beginning of the next financial year, April 2009. Once complete. we will be able to attribute carbon savings to waste reduction actions. Initial feedback, from those giving waste advice, suggests that it is a natural fit with our existing advice offering, and that advisors value the ability to be able to access this additional resource.

Between Oct 08 and Jan 09, over 80,000 enquiries were logged by advisors (excluding ones covering the Home Energy Check). The largest number of enquiries (44%) were about energy efficiency advice (e.g., insulation, appliances, lighting etc.) but three per cent (3%) of enquiries were about waste. The categories are not exclusive, for example an enquiry may include both waste advice and transport advice but waste does compare well to other areas such as microgen (2%) and transport (7%).

For more information on the project, please contact
Frances Galvanoni Project lead on water and waste advice
Jo Kaye Water and Waste Executive