Initiative to reduce waste impact

The schemes aim to cut the impact of waste on the environment

A ground-breaking scheme to reduce the environmental impact of waste in the home and workplace has been unveiled.

The Zero Waste Places initiative is being set up in six areas in London, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the West Midlands.

Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said the areas were chosen to demonstrate innovative waste prevention schemes - to be replicated in other areas.

She said the government was keen to see the sharing of good ideas on waste.

Ms Kennedy said: "Across England, we are seeing communities come together with innovative ideas and a shared determination to tackle waste locally.

Zero waste

"These six zero waste places will test what can be done to make it easier for people and businesses to change the way they view and deal with waste."

The six places chosen to implement zero waste plans are: the London Borough of Brent; Shenley Church End in Milton Keynes; King's Lynn in Norfolk; The London Borough of Lewisham; Peterborough; and the West Midlands.

The schemes will include more recycling bins and talking to businesses about how best to recycle their waste.

King's Lynn will achieve zero waste as far as possible within the historic area of its Tuesday Market.

Peterborough will run a Zero Waste City Centre initiative, which will focus on Cathedral Square and three streets leading from it.

Hugh Cripps, chief executive of the Peterborough Environment City Trust which is spearheading the project, said: "This project will see innovative new methods of waste reduction piloted in Peterborough's City Centre.

'Green zones'

"Peterborough will be an exemplar of good environmental practice on all waste."

The scheme in the city will ensure that as much waste as possible produced from the revamp of Cathedral Square is recycled.

The revamp will also see new recycling bins installed in the square.

Meanwhile, Lewisham is set to run an Eco Street initiative, where about 100 properties will be targeted through a range of measures including specialist advice and support to cut waste.

Brent will develop 20 Green Zones across the borough by September 2009, while the project in Milton Keynes will see an area of nearly 1,500 homes, two schools and a number of high street businesses aiming to cut waste and litter.

The West Midlands will create a Zero Waste Region, focusing on businesses and organisations which produce a large quantity of waste.