Eco towns ‘should lead way’ over waste

04 December 2008

Eco towns should lead the way in sustainable waste management and act as ‘catalysts for change’, new guidelines state.

The Towards zero waste worksheet, published by the Town and Country Planning Association this week, is the latest in a series providing guidance for eco town developments.

The worksheet states that all eco towns should adhere to five principles: view waste as a resource; take an integrated approach to waste/resource management; seek solutions which provide multiple benefits; be seen as exemplars by going beyond national average expectations; and act as ‘catalysts for change for performance in surrounding areas’.

As well as planning for ‘zero waste’, other minimum requirements include setting waste targets which go ‘substantially beyond’ achieving the Government’s 2007 Waste Strategy targets planned for 2020.

Targets should go to 2025 and perhaps as far as 2040, since waste-processing contracts can be fixed for 25 years. Eco towns should also ‘prioritise minimisation and reuse’ as well as recycling. Other minimum standards include aiming for at least a 50% reduction in construction waste to landfill, and operating high-quality waste facilities.

Those seeking exemplar status are expected to build on minimum expectations by making more substantial contributions. These could include setting targets which focus on waste minimisation in line with European ‘best practice’. For example, the Government’s target on minimising household waste is 225kg per person per year by 2020. Eco towns could aim for 150kg per person per year. Other guidelines include using inert construction waste as material for sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) and landscaping.

Local authorities are advised to consider linking collections in the rest of the local authority area to those in the eco town.

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