Resource Cumbria's first annual conference

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste in Cumbria will be the subject of a conference near Penrith on Tuesday (October 14).

Resource Cumbria, the waste partnership between Cumbria County Council and the six district councils, is holding its first annual conference at Rheged.

The event has been organised to celebrate the partnership`s successes as well as looking at shaping the future, and will feature a host of speakers and bring together key stakeholders in local waste management.

Last year the Government published the National Waste Strategy for England 2007.

The strategy set out and refined the Government`s vision for sustainable waste management and established a number of key objectives including meeting and exceeding landfill directive diversion targets and putting more emphasis on waste prevention and reuse.

Tuesday`s conference will give Resource Cumbria the opportunity to react to the National Waste Strategy, with the aim of discussing:

•If Cumbria is meeting its obligations under the strategy

•Whether Cumbria has the necessary facilities and services.

•The identification of any gaps in Cumbria`s Joint Municipal Waste Management

strategy.

•Whether Cumbria`s Joint Municipal Waste Management strategy is sustainable.

Speakers at the conference include Graham Harrison, head of waste management at Cumbria County Council, and Barry Watkinson of Sellafield Ltd.

There will also be a key-note speech from the Government Office North West, underlining the national pressures and requirements from the waste strategy.

And Envirolink Northwest and organisations from the Cumbria Community Recycling Network are putting on an exhibition, aimed at giving delegates a greater understanding of the variety of reuse facilities available across the county.

Cumbria Strategic Waste Partnership (CSWP) chairman, Carlisle City Councillor Ray Bloxham, said: "The intention is to make the conference an annual event and is a chance to take stock of our work so far.

"It is also a good opportunity for the partnership to look at its achievements, as well as looking to the future and how we can build on its successes for the benefit of all our communities."