Over 160 people from across the United Kingdom attended a Project Integra open day at Southampton Guildhall today. The main focus of the day was for local authorities to learn how Hampshire manages its rubbish.

Says Barbara Herridge, National Waste Awareness Initiative Co-Ordinator from Waste Watch, who delivered the key note address, "The award of Beacon status recognises the commitment, dedication and hard work required to achieve a standard of best practice in a specific field. The open days associated with Beacon status awards are about sharing that expertise, listening and learning from others and spreading that knowledge to create a ripple effect of good practice across the country."

This event was organised following the award of Beacon Council status from the DETR to Project Integra in the field of waste management. The programme included a series of presentations from experts within the Project Integra partnership along with workshop sessions focusing on the collection and reprocessing of waste. There were also visits to Chilbolton Down centralised composting facility to see Pro Grow soil conditioner being produced and to the Portsmouth Materials Recovery Facility to see recyclable materials being separated prior to reprocessing.

The Project Integra Beacon Council open day is one event in a series of open days taking place around the country on various topics such as community safety, education and housing. In the waste management category six other local authorities will also be demonstrating why they have been awarded Beacon Council status. However, out of all of the open days, the Project Integra event has received the most delegates.

Project Integra aims to build on the success of this event and will be hosting a follow up conference on 18 October 2000 in Fleet, Hampshire on the theme of "Locking waste management into sustainable and economic development". In addition, Project Integra will be exhibiting at the Institute of Wastes Management annual conference and exhibition in Torbay in June. All up to date details can be found on the Project Integra web site www.integra.org.uk.

23 May 2000