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Due to growing pressure to meet recycling targets set by the UK central government, it is becoming increasingly important for local authorities to understand the characteristics of recycling behaviour and the factors that influence them. The demographic, situational and psychological factors that influence recycling behaviour were drawn from existing empirical research studies and used to create an on-line survey of university students in Oxford. Students' recycling behaviour was influenced by situational variables such as provision of a domestic recycling box and the recycling behaviour of family and friends, whereas the student's reported willingness to minimise waste was linked to psychological variables such as environmental concern. These fundamental differences in the behavioural characteristics of waste minimisation, compared with recycling, demonstrate the importance for local authorities to identify which types of behaviour they wish to encourage. The authors recommend strategies for local authorities to facilitate waste minimisation and increase recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nature of the relationship between sustainable waste management behaviour between the 'home' and 'work' settings. A questionnaire survey of 566 employees of the Cornwall NHS (National Health Service) was used to examine the nature of the behaviour between the two settings and to understand the main factors influencing the behaviour. The results indicate that there is strong link in the behaviour of individuals between the two settings, with employees who practised recycling activities at home also being more likely to practise a similar behaviour at work. There was also some similarity in the level of sustainability of the behaviour between the two settings. These behaviours were strongly influenced by the underlying attitudes and beliefs of the staff towards the environment. The implications for policy-making to improve sustainable waste management behaviour amongst individuals in England and Wales are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Blackwood (South Wales) roads protest during February to April 2004 as a case study, the article discusses the potential for a re-emergence of UK eco-action, examining the possibility that re-engagement with ‘single issue’ environmental protests is a probable direction for the UK direct action movement. Tactically and strategically, Blackwood could be a signifier for a new environmentally focused ‘cycle of contention’ which explicitly makes the links between the environment/climate change, and the frames of oil, war and capitalism which have been some of the key discursive repertoires of the anti-globalisation and anti-war movement(s). A potential return to ‘single issue’ eco-action should not be seen as ‘wheel reinvention’ but rather evidence of a movement which has reflexively built capacity over an activist generation. The article provides evidence of predisposed and latent mobilisation potential; emergent networks and campaigns focusing on eco-action in the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 of the Great Britain. This Act is made to make provision about waste and about penalties for non-compliance with schemes for the trading of emissions quotas. Part 1 of the Act is planned to give legal effect to the obligations imposed by Article 5(1) and (2) of Council Directive 1999/3 1/EC1 which was adopted on 26 April 1999 and entered into force on 16 July 1999. The Act also implements a commitment in the White Paper "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales" to introduce tradable allowances for local authorities to restrict the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfills. The main aim of Article 5(1) and (2) of the Landfill Directive is to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste that is sent to landfills. Member States are bound to establish a national strategy for the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfills. Such a approach must ensure that targets for the reduction of the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills set out in Article 5(2) of the Directive are met.

Discusses how regulatory failure resulted in the poor performance of market-based instruments (MBI) such as tradable permits used to ensure environmental policy compliance. Regulatory failure in the case of British tradable-permit scheme called the Packaging Recovery Note system; Evolution of the Packaging Waste Regulations from legislative standards to a system of tradable permits; Failure of the British government to consider the directions that the market would take.

To comply with EU recycling targets for packaging waste, the UK relies on an industry run and market based eco-tax levied by reprocessors on obligated businesses. After examining the details of this approach, the use of Packaging Waste Recovery Notes is assessed in terms of its allocative impact and the contribution made to eco-efficiency. The evidence indicates the UK system has minimized the cost of delivering current EU targets, but has not been able to deliver allocative efficiency or to demonstrate dynamic improvements in resource use. Its effectiveness in meeting impending higher targets remains open to question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on developments regarding environmental legislation in Great Britain and other countries from September 12, 2003 to December 11, 2003. Anti-Social Behavior Act 2003; Household Waste Recycling Act 2003; Sustainable Energy Act 2003; Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003; Water Act 2003; Energy Bil; Hunting Bill; Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill; European legislation; International legislation.

In line with the UK Government's sustainability initiatives, finding new uses for discarded materials is an important issue which is attracting increasing attention. One such material is glass, which can have various applications once recycled. London Remade, the capital's recyclables market development agency, is currently investigating markets for recycled glass, including glass sand that can be used as replacement for quarried material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]