eNewsletter
Welcome to the winter eNewsletter from Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP).
Since the last eNewsletter two more districts are collecting food waste with more details below.
Don't forget, to send us comments or ideas for future articles.
Cherwell and Oxford City start food waste collections.
Cherwell District Council started to roll out its new mixed food and garden waste collections in October. Residents on the scheme can now put all food waste cooked or uncooked into the brown bin with their garden waste. This includes all meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetable produce.
Homes in villages around Banbury were first to receive everything they needed to start and Kidlington recently joined in November. The remaining 40,000 households in villages to the south of the district as well as Bicester and Banbury will come on board after Christmas.
Householders on the new food waste scheme receive only a kitchen caddy and a complimentary roll of compostable liners as they use their existing garden waste bins.
In total, about 12,000 tonnes of food waste goes to landfill each year in Cherwell, but with the new scheme this should be cut back considerably. More details available at www.cherwell.gov.uk/foodwaste.
Oxford City Council has closely followed Cherwell, and is now the third Oxfordshire council to collect food waste. Starting on 7th December, 15,000 homes across the city received their first weekly food waste collection. We'll update you in the next eNewsletter, but you can find out more on the City Council's website.
Waste World Cup!
In the autumn, OWP took part in the annual Waste World Cup: a six-a-side football tournament in the waste management industry at the University of Northampton.
Sports reporter Wayne Lewis gives his account!
OWP's team was keen to improve on last year’s debut performance of four straight defeats and no goals scored.
First up in the group stage were the much fancied Bywaters. A well organised OWP defence ensured a 0-0 draw. The next game saw OWP face SITA UK. A 0-0 draw was on the cards again, until a late SITA goal saw them take all 3 points.
After a 0-0 draw and a 1-0 defeat, OWP took an early lead in the third game against Surrey Waste Management when Dan Dempsey struck a low shot from wide out left that left the goalkeeper with no chance. Unfortunately, the celebrations didn’t last long as the opponents scored two second half goals to win the game 2-1.
The final group game saw OWP face tournament new-comers Camarque. OWP scored two early goals, through Craig Stephens and despite a late own goal, OWP held on to win 2-1.
The win was not enough to progress to the knock-out stages of the tournament, but everyone played well and an enjoyable day was had by all. The day ended on a high, as OWP’s James Pickering won the lunchtime “cross-bar challenge” competition!
Introducing… Wayne Lewis
Position/s held:
OWP Coordinator
What does this involve?
I’m responsible for managing and developing Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. We have an agreed strategy and set of objectives. It’s my job to oversee a programme of different projects and activities that help us meet our objectives and to build and maintain good working relationships between the Oxfordshire councils and our stakeholders.
Why/how did you end up in this role?
I fell into local authority waste management with a placement at Vale of Glamorgan council at the end of my university course. That led to my first proper job as waste management officer at West Oxfordshire DC. During time at Gloucestershire County Council I developed a waste partnership for Gloucestershire. That experience encouraged me to apply for my current role here.
What makes you proud about what you do?
I’m proud of the fact that Oxfordshire (and also the UK) has made huge improvements to the way that waste is managed over the last decade. When I started out, single figure recycling rates were the norm. Now in Oxfordshire we are recycling and composting over 45 per cent of our waste.
Pet-hate?
Closed mindedness: people with fixed views, who are unwilling to listen to those of others.
One thing you love about Oxfordshire?
I love the mix of town and country. It has beautiful countryside, without being too remote.
What would you like to be remembered for
I’m too young to think about such things!
How do you relax?
I enjoy playing sports. I’ll also watch as much sport as my wife and daughter will tolerate!
What would you do if you won the lottery?
I’d buy an old house and try my hand at an eco-renovation.
Finally, give us your favourite green tip:
A simple tip I’ve picked up from the Love Food, Hate Waste campaign is to plan the family’s meals and make a list before going shopping. This has cut down on food waste and also on our grocery bills.
