Enfield Conservative Group favour 'Towards Zero Waste' principle

Commentary by Cllr Daniel Pearce

Southgate Ward - London Borough of Enfield

There is an increasing popular policy that uses the phrase: 'Towards Zero Waste’, and the Conservative Group on Enfield Council is in favour of this in principle. But local authorities, waste authorities, residents and retailers should be offering 'carrots' (a range of incentives) and not 'sticks' (in the form of taxes), to encourage reductions in waste.

As my personal view only, I don't believe everyone understands the concept of ‘carbon footprint’ in everyday life, and what this means to them and the environment; the message has been lost and confused. However, everyone can see how much rubbish they are producing, and can therefore have a direct effect on this. 'Think before you throw’ must become the accepted norm.

In previous times of conflict, the country pulled together to reduce wastage, with slogans like ‘Make Do and Mend’. We have all become accustomed to a throwaway society, and retailers have not helped, with excessive packaging as part of marketing policy. We need to encourage new ideas and practical initiatives from the public and from business.

For instance, we need more schemes to offer composters to residents at subsidised rates. This would reduce organic waste and the scheme could be promoted rather than merely passively offered. A £30 plastic composter with a lifespan of at least ten years is surely better and cheaper than disposing of organic waste by the waste authority.


Easter is an example when retailers supply products (eggs!) with excessive packaging, that is unwanted by many consumers and often discarded in seconds, creating paper and plastic waste. Such packaging was less in the past, and so was the range of materials used. There are only a few manufacturers of this type of product, so it should be easier to make progress. Short-term marketing needed to win sales must become longer-term thinking.

If we encourage manufacturers and retailers to take action, and local authorities to help consumers consider options before they 'throw', then we don't need to keep building more waste capacity and transport waste, when quantities can be made to decline, some of it by being processed by households themselves.

We need charities involved in the process, as the local reuse and recycling network for many unwanted items. If a culture can develop further, to increase the use of charity shops for unwanted items, rather than throwing them away, then waste would be reduced as a result.

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Link to previous statement by Enfield Conservative Group:

"We will fight Pinkham Way all the way."