This is the month when things return “back to normal” after the holiday period, and as we catch up with the hundreds of emails that have dropped into our inboxes whilst being away, I hope you take time to have a look at this month’s new LARAC OnLine (LOL). At some point we’ll be asking for your thoughts on this compared to the previous version of LOL.
So, what is “back to normal” these days? I’m sure you will all be doing the annual budget scrutiny to see where next year’s savings can be made and wondering how we can try and keep residents motivated with the recycling ethos whilst having no money to do so. One way to do the latter would be to get on board with Recycle Week (24th – 30th Sept) and use the campaign materials provided free of charge by WRAP. The aim of the campaign is to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from all around the home. By participating in Recycle Week you are assisting in reinforcement of the national message that recycling is still important; even just sharing the message across social media helps.
“Back to normal” seems to be a theme at the moment, and one which WRAP is using in their new branding of normative messaging – the Do/Does campaign to be launched due Recycle Week. In case you haven’t seen it, why not have a look on the partners website at www.partners.wrap.org.uk.
September is also RWM time. My LARAC colleagues and I will be at the event speaking in workshops as well as having a stand, so look us up on the map (stand 5T02) in order to pop over and say hello. I’m speaking on a panel discussing Improving Recyclate Quality, which is close to my heart at the moment as I embark on executing a contamination action plan in my day job at Pendle.
I’ll also be judging the entries for our own LARAC Celebration Awards soon this month too and I’m looking forward to reading about all the really good work that councils are still doing in the recycling arena despite the budget cuts. We will showcase the entrants and winners on our website in due course and that will help share the excellent best practice out there amongst our members.
