Six UK ‘Zero Waste Places’ announced

Six areas in the UK have been designated as ‘zero waste places’ by environment minister Jane Kennedy.

Local councils and community groups in the six areas have agreed to take all measures necessary to reduce the impact of business and community waste on the environment.

The impact of waste will be reduced using guidelines issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Kennedy said the scheme demonstrates a determination among communities to find innovative ways to tackle waste.

She added that the zero waste places will act as test zones for what is possible when a community puts its mind to reducing waste.

The six zero waste spaces range in size from a residential street to an entire UK region.

Peterborough - will become a zero waste city centre. Two hundred retailers and offices, including city council offices and the town hall, will aim to become zero waste zones.

Shenley Church End in Milton Keynes - businesses, schools and 1,500 homes in the area have committed to cutting waste and litter.

London Borough of Brent - 20 ‘Green Zones’ will be developed in a scheme that will completed within the next 12 months.

London Borough of Lewisham - will trial an ‘eco-street’ initiative affecting about 100 households.

Kings Lynn in Norfolk - the historic Tuesday Market in the town will be the focus for the zero waste place scheme here.

The West Midlands - Zero Waste region. The scheme here will focus on businesses and organisations that produce large amounts of waste.