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1. Waste and resources

The first part of the website intends to provide Local or Regional Authority (LRA) decision-makers with information allowing them to clarify the relations between waste and resources.

Local or Regional Authority (LRA) decision-maker or staff in waste management are facing an increasing quantity of urban waste, which results in escalating costs for Municipal Solid Waste management. This waste is directly related to households' consumption. But much larger quantities of waste are generated by the manufacturing of each product put on the market, for instance due to mining and energy production. These hidden waste are in turn directly related to the consumption of natural resources.

Population growth and current patterns of economic development result into increasing demands of natural resources, associated with severe environmental impacts. Environmental and renewable resources such as soil, water, air, timber, bio-diversity, and fish stocks, are particularly at stake. This also refers to disparity in consumption around the globe. Will there be enough resources worldwide for everybody ? Recent studies and indicators are now available, which help to understand this challenge.

2. Recycling

Recycling waste that cannot be prevented contributes to reducing the demand for virgin raw materials. Recycling can be seen as an alternative source of valuable resources for cities. Combined to repair and reuse, recycling is also a means to extend products' life, to reduce waste and to create valuable local employment. Reuse and recycling preserve natural resources, protect the environment and create opportunities for local businesses. In light of recent studies, these interests become more and more obvious.

In this second part, facts and figures are provided, which could support municipal efforts in promotion campaigns for repair, reuse and recycling.

3. Dematerialisation

Our production of municipal waste is a direct consequence of our consumption patterns. There is an urgent need to improve the resource efficiency of our production and consumption patterns. Using less resources refers to dematerialisation, which literally means the use of less materials.

Resources and waste management entails the involvement of all actors of the production and consumption chain. Decision-makers in LRA are the closest public actors to citizens/consumers, retailers and producers. As such, they can play a key role in promoting a more sustainable society. A current challenge for cities consists in encouraging waste prevention at source and recycling, and in raising awareness on different ways of consumption. Some LRA in Europe have already set up such initiatives:15 good practice cases provide insight into what is possible to do for LRA.

4. FORUM

This website also intends to be a platform for all stakeholders concerned with urban sustainable development, in particular with management of natural resources and waste, and with eco-consumption. The Forum is the place where to exchange comments, ideas and experiences about waste and resource management, reuse and recycling, dematerialisation … Feedbacks on the website are also welcome. The Forum is open to anybody wishing to participate.

Contact: acrplus@acrplus.org