Waste and Recycling Management sub-group

Last week the new Waste and Recycling Management sub-group met for the first time. Unfortunately, a breakdown in communication meant that I did not hear of the meeting until after the event itself, and that no students were represented at the meeting.

Chaired by Alan Stephens, the Head of House Services (who is generally responsible for recycling issues across campus), the first main point of discussion were the terms of reference for the group. The group's aim is to "Assist the University Environmental Strategy Working Group with proposals, recommendation and develop policy for UWA waste management including, reduce, re-use or repair, recycle and responsible disposal of waste. The aim is to achieve and if possible over-achieve the requirements of all relevant environmental legislation."

I haven't recieved the minutes yet so I don't know the specifics, but the following agenda points that were discussed at the meeting offers some sense of the kind of things that were covered:

Purpose, scope, definition and responsibility of the sub group
Definition of recycling / waste covered by the sub group
Stakeholders (who is invited to attend)
What is not included – Genetically Modified Organisms, radioactive waste, etc.
Ideas for reducing, reusing and repair, recycling and waste disposal
Grant for recycling schemes
What are we doing now
List of recyclables
What do we want to achieve / targets
Education and awareness
Legislative compliance
List of recyclables
Build relationships with local organisations to promote and increase effectiveness