Resources

This document sets out to clarify the differences between the materials used to make plastic packaging, the way plastics can behave and, the terminology used to describe plastics.

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have a key role to play in the creation of high-quality/high-value recyclate streams that can be used as feedstock materials by a range of industries. The implementation of effective Quality Management Systems (QMS) can support this through consistency of approach, risk management and commercial differentiation.

The market knowledge portal summarises key trends affecting the recycling and reprocessing sector and acts as a portal to the underlying data sources.

WRAP and UK food businesses have agreed some common guidelines for measuring and reporting on food surplus and waste, consistent with the global Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (FLW Standard)

Traditionally, food waste collection schemes have been rolled out to flats as a blanket service, with all blocks of flats within a local authority’s boundaries receiving the same type of collection scheme.

The WRAP ‘Love Your Clothes’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the value of clothes and encourage people to make the most of the clothes they already have. The campaign has been developed as part of the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan.

Re-use occurs when items are used again for their original purpose. It can involve checking, cleaning and repairing items before they are passed on to a new owner. Local authorities can develop services to facilitate re-use or support existing re-use organisations and community groups to deliver their own activities.

Distributing unwanted or surplus food via ‘food banks’ and redistribution charities puts food that would otherwise have been wasted to good use. 

Both residents and business in the community can donate to such schemes.

WRAP carried out research in 2012/13 to test communications aimed at:

• building awareness of the negative aspects of food waste; and,
• influencing behaviours to prevent food waste and increase the use of local authority food collection services.

This section of the Household Waste Prevention Hub provides a summary overview of the research report’s recommendations.

This section of the Waste Prevention Hub describes the extent of food waste in the home and how it can be prevented.

WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) campaign contains useful reference material that local authorities can draw on to promote food reduction in their area.

There are a number of existing tools and benefits calculators which can be used to predict and monitor the impact of waste prevention activities. The tools use different information and methodologies to generate the results. Some offer a predictive indication of the potential impact of a service or activity to inform decision making whilst some will provide a retrospective impact based on activity information. The most appropriate tool for a local authority will depend on their specific monitoring and evaluation needs.