And Finally

Society’s perception of waste has also changed. It is no longer viewed as an unwanted substance but rather as an unused resource. Minimisation, reuse and recycling of waste now have a high profile and a recognised role to play in waste management. Local Authorities now have to meet statutory recycling/composting targets, which have driven a marked increase in the number of recycling schemes, and raised the public profile of recycling significantly during the last few years. Increased public awareness also means increased staff and student awareness so institutions that have not begun to introduce recycling schemes will find themselves under growing pressure to do so. Institutions must consider waste management in its entirety rather than simply dealing with the disposal of waste. A second case study from the University of Derby summarises the benefits that have been derived from taking this kind of approach.

This guide will help you to identify wastes, establish how they are currently managed and introduce an effective waste management system, which should minimise the volume of waste sent for final disposal. Chapter 2 explains in more detail the national strategies and legislation, giving a clear background to current waste management in the UK.