| A new office paper
recycling and buy back scheme designed especially for Surrey is
making good progress since its launch in February 2003. The scheme
run by South London based environmental organisation BioRegional
Development Group is called 'Local Paper for Surrey'. The project
aims to provide a sustainable office paper cycle for Surrey, a county
with a low paper recycling rate. The scheme is currently focusing
on the Epsom and Ewell area and has so far received a good response
from the business community – members range from roofers to
solicitors.
It is estimated that Surrey's
current office paper recycling rate is only 10-15%, far below the
national average of 36%. Local Paper for Surrey will offer free
advice and support materials on how businesses can recycle their
office paper waste at their local paper mill, then buy back the
100% recycled office paper that the mill produces, thereby 'getting
their own back'. The scheme is funded by two grants; £53,
320 from the SITA Environmental Trust provided through the Landfill
Tax Credit Scheme, and £5,438 from the Naturesave Trust.
Since the launch the team have
been contacting businesses and schools in Surrey through business
groups such as Surrey Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of
Small Businesses. The team also took part in the Surrey Schools
Earth Summit on the 3rd June 2003. BioRegional aim to have 360 organisations
enrolled after two years, resulting in 2000 tonnes saved from landfill
per year and 34 000 trees per year. The scheme will roll out across
the whole of Surrey over a two-year period.
Supporters and partners in the
scheme include High Sheriff of Surrey, Penelope Keith who gave a
speech at the launch, Surrey County Council and District Councils,
environmental groups, paper companies, paper collectors and Surrey
based business groups such as the Surrey Sustainable Business partnership.
Jane Buntin manages the free Local
Paper for Surrey advice line, she commented:
“We are thrilled to have launched this scheme. We are urging
offices to sign up to all three steps; that is to reduce, recycle
and buy back. It’s good to see more offices and individuals
recycling but if we don’t buy the recycled products back then
the market for them will never grow. The recycled paper is guaranteed
in photocopiers and when people receive the free samples they will
be pleasantly surprised. And employment in Surrey will benefit too,
a job in recycling will be created for every 21 new members on the
scheme”.
The project will build on the
success of its sister scheme Local Paper for London which has recruited
577 businesses from London and the South East over the past 2 years.
Annually the 577 offices divert 4,000 tonnes of paper from landfill
and save 71,000 trees from being felled. This is a great achievement,
but there is potential to save even more resources with the scheme's
expansion into Surrey. Many organisations, such as Direct Line Insurance,
have found that the local, quality recycled paper is cheaper, and
are making savings on trade waste charges by recycling instead of
dumping waste paper, cutting their annual paper bills by as much
as 20%.
For more information about Local
Paper for Surrey call 020 8404 4886, or email
surreypaper@bioregional.com
Notes
BioRegional Development Group is an independent environmental organisation,
bringing sustainability into the mainstream by increasing local
production for local needs. Our projects cover wood products, textiles,
paper, food, transport and housing.
Scheme members include:
Handicap International charity based in Farnham
Lloret controls manufacturing company based in Coulsdon
Age Concern charity based in Guildford
Acuity training, computer training based in Guildford
Cobbs and Davies Roofing based in Dorking
Morgan Keating associates based near Dorking, and many more
SITA Environmental Trust was set
up in 1997, it funds projects that improve sustainable waste management
across the UK and projects that benefit communities located near
to active SITA landfill sites. Each year the Trust grants £10
million nationwide. The Trust, which is managed independently from
SITA Group, receives the bulk of the Group's landfill tax credits.
The Landfill tax is a levy on licensed landfill operators aimed
at encouraging a shift towards more environmentally sustainable
methods of waste management. The landfill tax legislation also brought
about the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. This scheme allows landfill
operators to voluntarily donate up to 20% of their landfill tax
liability to environmental and sustainable waste management projects.
The Naturesave Trust was set up
ecological insurance intermediary Naturesave Policies ltd, 10% of
the premiums generated from the sale of all home buildings, contents
and travel policies goes to benefit environmental and conservationist
organisations.
Local Paper for London was launched
by now Mayor of London Ken Livingstone in November 2001. Participating
offices include Direct Line Insurance, The House of Commons, The
Greater London Authority, IKEA, The Royal Albert Hall and hundreds
of others big and small.
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