A “Clean, Green, Future” for Wales is being sought as a unique partnership is forged to help develop treatment and recycling solutions to a previously difficult to recycle sector.
The ‘Dyfodol Gwyrdd Glân’ ‘Clean Green Future’ project team has been established on behalf of Welsh Local Authorities in collaboration with the Welsh Government, and they are seeking to procure an affordable and sustainable treatment and recycling solution for Absorbent Hygiene Product (AHP) waste in Wales.
It is estimated that there is around 40,000 tonnes of Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP), which include disposable nappies and incontinence products in the waste stream in Wales. This equates to a staggering 200 million nappies a year in Wales and over half a million a day.
A number of Welsh local authorities have been ‘recycling’ their Absorbent Hygiene Products for a few years and this project now aims to build on this and take it to the next level by providing a sustainable all Wales treatment and recycling solution that Councils’ in Wales can utilise.
There has been a number of innovative advancements in the way AHP waste is managed in recent years and the main aim of this project is to work with and engage with businesses to use and enhance these to turn AHP waste in to a valuable resource
The project is inviting businesses who can offer innovative approaches to AHP waste management,to come forward and attend a special Industry Day on Monday 20thJanuary 2020. This is a great opportunity for businesses to help shape the projects procurement strategy, gain insight into the project and change the future of waste management to deliver a Clean Green Future for Wales.
Nigel Wheeler, Senior Responsible Officer for the ‘Dyfodol Gwyrdd Glân’ ‘Clean Green Future’ project, said: “This innovative project, is working with and on behalf of all Welsh Local Authorities and the Welsh Government to develop and deliver an affordable, sustainable treatment and recycling solution for absorbent hygiene product (AHP) waste in Wales.
“There has been a number of innovative advancements in the way AHP waste is managed in recent years and the main aim of this project is to work with and engage with businesses to use and enhance these to turn AHP waste in to a valuable resource. This can only be done by developing treatment and recycling solutions from what has previously been seen as a solid waste disposal issue – resulting in a reduced carbon impact for Wales.
“As a nation it is vital that we work together to develop a Clean, Green, Future for Wales so that we can meet the Welsh Government target of becoming a Zero-Waste nation by 2030.
“As a country we are looking to reduce, re-use and recycle as much as we can in a bid to become a Zero-Waste nation operating in a circular economy. As a result, local authorities together with the Welsh Government are seeking more affordable and sustainable solutions to waste management.
“By removing the putrescent and offensive waste components e.g. food waste and AHP products it could lead the way to facilitate the opportunity to improve recycling rates, reduce the frequency of residual waste collections and support the green economy by creating employment within Wales.”