The South East England Regional Assembly hosted an international study tour to showcase the region’s good practice in recycling last week.

As part of a two-year project, waste professionals from six countries visited the region to see how we collect and manage recycled materials. The project aims to learn from other countries and share good practice. This study tour included visits to see:

• Kerbside collection in Brighton and Hove
• Community recycling site in Hove
• Scrap metal export and removal of oil, petrol and water from cars at Shoreham Harbour
• Materials recovery, eg cans, plastic, mixed paper and cardboard in Leatherhead
• Aylesford Newsprint Paper Mill where paper is recycled and turned into newsprint
• Dismantling and recycling of electrical equipment eg televisions and fridges, and construction and demolition materials recycling in Lewes
• Twin-bin collection scheme in Mole Valley.

The trip is part of a European waste management project to share knowledge of:

• Collection of household materials for recycling
• Re-using landfill sites for waste management
• How waste management is organised.

The South East partners in the project are:

• The Regional Assembly
• The Environment Agency
• Surrey County Council
• Adur District Council

Chief Executive of the Assembly, Paul Bevan, said: “It is essential that we improve the way we manage our waste. It is estimated the region’s landfill sites will be full in just four years’ time so we need to find solutions. Many businesses are turning waste into profit and creating jobs, and we should further encourage this.

“ The South East has one of the highest recycling rates in the country with 21%, but this is not high enough. We hope this project will help us share good practice and improve our own performance.”

The Draft South East Plan, submitted to Government on 31 March, stresses the need to treat waste as a resource rather than a burden, and sets out comprehensive policies for waste planning and management, including challenging targets for recycling and recovery.

More information on the project at www.waste3c.org/

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. PHOTOS OF THE VISITS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
2. Partners in the European Waste Management project include representatives from the Netherlands, South East England, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, and Germany.
   
   
3. The South East England Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
4. The Regional Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
5. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
• It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
• The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
• The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007