FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SUPPORTS RUTLAND’S WASTE EXCHANGE SCHEME
Published:Friday 13 June 2003| Friends of the Earth, one of the largest environmental campaigning organisations in the country, is officially supporting a unique waste exchange scheme on Rutland’s website, www.rutnet.co.uk. A new Wastexchange Directory, which has been produced in co-operation with Friends of the Earth, Rutland Friends of the Earth and Rutland County Council, will be launched this Friday (13 June). WasteXchange allows companies or individuals to 'advertise' their waste materials absolutely free and aims to increase the re-use and recycling of material currently disposed of as non-domestic waste. A variety of items can be exchanged on the site including agricultural, computers, construction, electrical, furniture, metals and alloys, office equipment, paper and card, plastics, textiles or wood. Robert Reid, Cabinet portfolio holder for community and environment, said: “The WasteXchange programme is an excellent facility that enables companies to recycle their waste, while others obtain useful materials for free. This would be ideal for organisations such as playgroups or schools that need materials like scrap card and paper for arts projects. “The scheme forms part of the council’s aim to reduce the amount of waste produced by encouraging people to recycle and re-use items that they would have previously simply thrown away.” Callie Lister, Friends of the Earth’s regional campaign co-ordinator for the East Midlands region, said: “The scheme enables businesses and individuals to help both their local community and the environment.” Callie continued: “We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with the county council and Rutland on Line to further develop this excellent easy-to-use scheme, which we hope will become a blueprint for other schemes across the country, and will help to reduce the huge mountain of waste that we in the UK throw away every year .” WasteXchange is a not for profit service managed by Rutland’s website, www.rutnet.co.uk. The service is offered free to all businesses and individuals in Rutland. The facility allows users to search for something specific by entering a word in the search box or they can respond to an existing notice from someone wanting to get rid of items. An example of a current advert on the site is: ‘We have two tonnes per week of chipboard off cuts that would make ideal fuel for solid fuel heating of small commercial, community premises, greenhouse, or other uses. Free to a good home.’ Rutnet is a public/private venture between Rutland County Council and Rutland On Line designed to improve access to electronic information in Rutland. In June 2000 the website won national honours in the Local Government Association/BT Website Awards taking the overall winner award. | ||
| Author: Penny pwilkinson@rutland.gov.uk 758 328 | Display start: Friday 13 June 2003 | |