The War on Waste aimed to:

• increase public awareness of the waste problem
• encourage people to take personal action in minimising waste and maximising recycling
• increase public understanding of the need for unpopular waste facilities.

Why involve the public?

The facilities for waste disposal in Hampshire have changed dramatically in the past few years:

• many landfill sites have been closed and the existing sites are filling up;
• Hampshire's four incinerators shut down in November 1996 following the introduction of new emission controls
• waste transfer stations have been constructed to handle the waste that once went for incineration but which now goes to landfill; and
• doorstep collections of recyclables are increasing throughout the county and composting sites for garden waste have been established.

We need to keep the public informed so that they are aware of the complexities faced in waste management in Hampshire. Also, public support is needed for waste reduction and recycling schemes. This support has helped Project Integra to achieve the Government's target to recycle 25% of household waste by the year 2000.

There has never been a better time to raise awareness of waste issues. Over 90% of households in Hampshire now have a kerbside collection of recyclables, the county as a whole has achieved a recycling rate of 25% of household waste and the Household Waste Recycling Centres recycle over 50% of materials delivered to them.

Waste recovery includes materials reuse and recycling, and also the recovery of energy from the processing of waste eg energy recovery incineration, whereby electricity is produced from burning waste, or anaerobic digestion, during which process energy is also produced.  Three energy recovery incinerators are planned for Hampshire; Chineham near Basingstoke, where construction has started; Marchwood, near Southampton, and Portsmouth, where building will soon begin.  The possibility of siting an anaerobic digestion plant in Southampton is being investigated.

The Campaign

Project Integra’s War on Waste campaign was launched on 18 October 1996, to encourage residents of Hampshire to reduce, reuse and recycle, and to raise awareness of waste issues. At first, a public relations company, Lee Peck Communications was employed to run campaigns, produce press releases and secure media coverage. This proved to be a very useful way to start the campaign, and many effective promotions took place, but the cost was high. The contract was reviewed at intervals, and parts of the public relations function were gradually taken over by Project Integra officers, until eventually, in November 1999, all the promotions work became internal.

War on Waste workshops were set up in 1997. They take place every two months, and are an opportunity for all the District, Borough and Unitary authority Recycling Officers to meet with County Council Promotions Team members, and the Communications Officer from Hampshire Waste Services. Current and future promotions are discussed, partners are updated with information about campaigns, and often there is a talk from an expert on some aspect of recycling/waste reduction. Media training, such as how to approach radio and TV interviews, have also featured.

Project Integra partners are involved in joint campaigns, using the same artwork and messages which are developed jointly.  Many promotions, such as school visits, exhibitions at local events, sales of composters, and dissemination of local information are carried out by individual district councils. Resources and ideas are shared. Many promotions are countywide, and involve all, or several partners co-operating.  Some initiatives are co-ordinated or led by the County Council.

The following gives an idea of some, though by no means all, of the promotional work that has been completed since the War on Waste Campaign began in 1996.

 1996

• The War on Waste campaign was launched on 18 October. The ‘Battle Wagon’, a HampshireWaste Services vehicle with War on Waste posters on the sides, was sent on a campaign trail via local schools to Portsmouth MRF, delivering recycling messages and pledge forms. Media coverage was from press and radio.
• Logos and press release paper were designed and the War on Waste Mascot, General Waste was designed by Simon Chadwick, and made into a costume.
• Project Integra ‘pop-up’ display panels were made, with specially designed information about waste and recycling in Hampshire.
• On 26 October, General Waste appeared at The Dell, Southampton’s Football Ground.
• December - General Waste appeared at Fareham shopping centre, encouraging people to cut down on waste at Christmas.
• There was a Christmas toy collection at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). The toys were checked by Trading Standards officers and given to local charities.

  1997

• First War on Waste Workshop – meeting of Recycling Officers from all Project Integra district councils plus representatives from Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Waste Services. War on Waste activities/promotions discussed.
• War on Waste week in March. Community Waste Blitz in Romsey.
• The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum winter garden project was started. The garden was made primarily from recycled products – Pro-Grow, the soil conditioner made from Hampshire’s green garden waste, has been used on beds, reclaimed road materials for the central path, and the grass pathways are reinforced with recycled plastic honeycomb. The benches are made from recycled polystyrene.
• Various other promotions took place during the year, with articles, press releases and photo opportunities eg in April a nappy advertising campaign promoted real nappies and there was a Meridian TV programme.
• A War on Waste Roadshow with Sainsburys took place.
• Lee Peck Communications continued to run promotions and produce press releases.

• In 2000, we started to focus promotions on targeted campaigns to increase recycling through kerbside collections, banks, and household waste recycling centres.

 For further information, please contact Anne Green-Wilkinson  anne.green-wilkinson@hants.gov.uk Tel: 01962 846629

Site Contents © 2000 Project Integra
Contents correct at date of publication
Web Design by Alchemy Digital