3rd March 2023: Meeting Notes
1. Five of us met, Chris sent apologies.
2. Recycling – Specifically Plastics
2.1 Supermarkets
• No progress on this yet.
• Tania and Lyn agreed to investigate these in terms of plastics policy and operations, via publicly available resources and direct contact with responsible staff where possible.
• Tania looking into Sainsbury’s etc., Lyn into Aldi and Lidl.
2.2 Sunderland Council
• Contact made with Marc Morley (Director of Environmental Services). He is to ring Helen next week to discuss what we want from his team.
• We discussed what we want to know:
◦ What is the council’s strategy for reduced plastics use and recycling?
◦ What are the specific targets? and how they are doing?
◦ What do their future plan include?
◦ What can we as citizens do better? What would be the “top three things” for us to focus on?
◦ Can we get better clarity of what do/doesn’t go in the bins? What is the impact when we get it wrong?
• We initially would like to have this discussion with this group and then we can feedback to the full WVu3a membership via the monthly meeting, email, the website.
• Is there a good “roadshow” type session they could provide in a monthly meeting slot (would ned to liaise with Carolyn over availability in coming months).
2.3 JB Recycling Ltd
• Lyn contacted Mark Penny and found the waste is collected in Washington but recycling is done in Hartlepool.
• They offer visits, but after discussion we decided that it would be simpler (and have less environmental impact) if we were to view their video, see if they have readily available information about their part in the process and send follow-up questions for any outstanding issues for a response, such as:
◦ What quantity of recycling comes from Sunderland council (in some relatable metrics – e.g. no. of buses)?
◦ What %age of that is recyclable? And where does it go? (UK, abroad)? Is it reused and if so how?
3. Further Discussions.
3.1 Plastics Replacements
Tania mentioned the development of seaweed-based plastics: an Earthshot prize was awarded to one start-up in this area. She’ll investigate further.
3.2 Effective Industrial Recycling
Mura Technology on Teesside is focusing on using “supercritical steam” to convert plastics back into the oils and chemicals they were made from: which can then be reused. https://muratechnology.com/news/wmglca/
3.3 “Hard to recycle” products.
What do we know about whether and where products such as blister packs and Tassimo coffee pods can be recycled? We will see what we can find out for next time.
3.4 Other “waste” products.
• What to do with (what is best to do with) our “surplus” products?
• Are charity shops better than door-step collections? A number will take working electrical good (they PAT test them).
At Sunderland‘s new waste and recycling centre on Pallion Industrial estate there is a 2nd hand/charity shop “Revive” that takes and sells items (including electricals).
A new v. large Salvation Army store has opened on Wessington Way retail park – currently looking for furniture.
Another option for hard to pass-on items (such as dark wood furniture) is Facebook Marketplace.
• Dunelm Mill takes all sorts of clean fabrics – even where the quality isn’t great - to reuse/recycle.
3.5 What is going on nationally within the u3a regarding the environment?
Lyn raised the point that there are national subject advisors and national-level groups within the u3a/TAT.
We should know what is going on there and what we can access/contribute to. Helen is to investigate further.
3.6 Informing Others
It was agreed that on our own u3a website we should have a tab at the top level pointing to an Environment Bulletin where we can post tips/information for all members of WVu3a.
The meeting ran from 10-12noon.
Next meeting: Forage Cafe, 10-12noon, 7th April 2023 [Good Friday – do we want to reschedule or leave until May?]
Back to Our Environment group page.