Transcript EFN Autumn Lunch Local and global 11th October 2011

EFN Autumn Lunch
Local and global
11th October 2011
Shlomo Dowen
UKWIN National Coordinator
UKWIN





United Kingdom Without Incineration Network
Founded in March 2007 with the support of
Friends of the Earth and The Ecology Trust
Local: UKWIN helps 80+ local grassroots groups
develop the case against waste incineration and
positively engage with the planning system
National: UK-wide movement (community of interest) for
sustainable waste management
European / Global: Part of the Global Alliance for
Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
Today’s audience





We’re not all “waste geeks”
We are all committed to creating positive
environmental change
We care about equitable and sustainable
resource use
We know that prudent resource use  waste
reduction & increased recycling and composting
Treating discards as resources  zero waste
UKWIN’ing
In addition to community-building & local wins:
 “Local”  “more than local”, e.g. traffic impacts 
ash disposal impacts / POPs / Climate Change, etc.
 Critiquing Government and industry claims 
UKWIN is positioned as arbiter of the validity of
these claims – sought out by media
(e.g. mainstream and waste trade press)
 Having made gains with argument that incineration is
not needed for waste management, the discourse is
shifting to energy generation and climate change
 Helped influence the tone and content of Gov’t
Waste Review – move towards zero waste mindset
How do we do it?







Networking!
Connecting the dots  Greater than sum of parts
Collaboration between our members, e.g. gathering and
sharing detailed local information (fact-finding, research)
Working with other organisations, e.g. FoE (Resource
Use, Rights & Justice), Environmental Law Foundation
Exercising our rights & posing the right questions, e.g.
Environmental Information Reg’s; Audit; Consultations
Empowering people who otherwise would not be
involved, or where involvement wouldn’t be as effective
Linking the “very local” to the “very global”
Linking “very local” to “very global”



Most members becoming active for first time: I’m the
one explaining planning system, breaking news that
campaigns often last for years (and health arguments do
not win), reassuring: they’re not alone (local/natl/global)
Advocacy for environmental justice – levelling playing
field (somewhat), e.g. mediating with a Planning Officer;
fact-checking draft; providing witness for an inquiry
Connecting local people to neighbours, and to bigger
worlds, e.g. access to national and international
expertise; support / solidarity standing up to transnational corp’s, e.g. with unions in America v. Covanta
More…



Questions now
Chat during / after lunch
Beyond today:



ukwin.org.uk
[email protected]
(01623) 640134
Why UKWIN opposes incineration






The incineration of household waste:
 depresses recycling and wastes resources,
 releases greenhouse gasses, and
 is often forced through against strong public opposition.
Instead of promoting zero waste, incinerators rely for
feedstock on material that should be recycled or composted.
Incinerators create toxic emissions and hazardous ash, and
therefore pose significant health risks.
Alternatives to incineration are cheaper, more flexible, quicker
to implement and better for the environment.
Rather than incinerating waste, local authorities should focus
on maximising recycling and providing a weekly separate food
waste collection for treatment by composting or anaerobic
digestion (AD).
Recyclables and biodegradables should be separated from the
small amount of residue material. This residue should be
stabilised by composting and then sent to landfill.