The history of Project Integra

At the end of the 1980s it became clear that Hampshire was facing a waste disposal crisis, as landfill space was rapidly filling up; incinerators built in the 1970s were not going to meet new EU emission regulations; and waste levels were continuing to increase.

Action

• In 1993 Hampshire County Council and the 13 district councils undertook a county wide public consultation process to take account of the views of Hampshire residents  on how to deal with the waste problem.

• The consultation process resulted in the introduction of an integrated waste management strategy, known as Project Integra, adopted by the 11 district councils of Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton unitary authorities, Hampshire County Council, and the private waste contractor Veolia Environmental Services, Hampshire.

• Links were established within a wider network including Parish Councillors, Community Groups and Education and these links are still being developed.

Project Integra was formed on the basis of the following seven point action plan

1.   Action on waste minimisation
2.   Action on composting
3.   Action on recycling
4.   Support for anaerobic digestion
5.   Use of recovery technologies, including incineration
6.   3 to 5 waste processing facilities (not exceeding 200,000 tonnes per annum)
7.   Residual waste to landfill

Results

To date Project Integra has achieved a collective recycling rate of 37%, with over 95% of Hampshire's households now having access to a kerbside collection of recyclables.

Developments have been made in terms of infrastructure with the provision of:

• 2 Materials Recovery Facilities (located in Portsmouth and Alton)

• 3 Centralised composting sites

• 9 transfer stations

• A network of 26 Household Waste Recycling Centres

• 3 Energy Recovery Incinerators - (located in Chineham, Marchwood and Portsmouth)

In 2004 Project Integra was awarded funding from the Waste and Resources Action Programme which, together with its own funding and some from Hampshire County Council, was put towards aBehaviouralChange Strategy. This countywide communication programme is known as Recycle for Hampshire, and waslaunched by Hampshire born Olympic athlete Roger Black in March 2005. Since the launch, Recycle forHampshire has run various projects across the county to help increase residents awareness andknowledge of recycling. For more information on the current campaign, visit the Recycle for Hampshire website by clicking on the logo.

Good practice points

The effective delivery of the strategy requires joint working between the authorities. The mechanics and principles for the joint working arrangements are established in the following ways:

• A joint memorandum of understanding setting out the principles of the respective local authorities' responsibilities and obligations supported by all Project Integra partners.

• A tri-partite contract management agreement between Hampshire County Council and the two unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

• A formal meeting structure to include representation by all Project Integra partners at officer and elected member level.

• A proposal for a formal agreement to share income and risks from the sale of recyclables.

• A ‘Project Integra’ joint service plan agreement setting out detailed objectives and responsibilities for the next year.

• A joint waste volume planning process establishing service needs and aspirations for the next five years.

• A joint promotional campaign focusing on waste minimisation and recycling.

• Project Integra awarded Beacon Council status by the DETR for Sustainable Development - dealing with waste in December 1999.