Latest News And Updates

The HNZ public meeting on recycling on the 4^th November was well attended. Presentations were given by Wendy Fail, Senior Waste Management Officer Northumberland County Council, and Nick Morphet, County Councillor for the Humshaugh Ward.  Copies of their presentations below.

Key points were:

 No household waste in Northumberland is sent to landfill or overseas.

1. Household waste collected from domestic properties is either recycled (grey recycling bins) or sent to an Energy from Waste Plant that generates electricity (green non-recycling bins), both under contract to SUEZ.
2. ONLY paper, cardboard, food and drink cans, aerosol cans and a very limited range of plastic waste, i.e. PETE (polyethylene terephthalate – Recycling Code 1, e.g. empty coke bottles) and HDPE (high-density polyethylene – Recycling Code 2, e.g. empty milk bottles), can be put in grey recycling bins.
3. About half of all the waste put in grey recycling bins cannot be recycled and goes to the Energy from Waste Plant for combustion.
4. The Energy from Waste Plant has sophisticated pollution control measures and the ash produced is reused or recycled where possible, for example aluminium from foil is recovered.
5. There are many other items that can be recycled with collection points at the Northumberland County Council site in Hexham and local shops and supermarkets (see https://www.matthiaswinter.co.uk/pages/recycling-in-hexham)
6. To reduce the need for recycling, wherever possible:
1. Unnecessary items (e.g. excessive packaging) should be REFUSED at the point of purchase.
2. Only the minimum of any of any product required should be purchased – REDUCE.
3. Items should be REUSED for as long as possible.
4. The possibility of REPURPOSING should be explored when an item is no longer needed for the original purpose.

 Humshaugh Net Zero is considering how to promote recycling locally and reduce carbon emissions associated with recycling.

Our first Net Zero Café will be held on Saturday 30^th October between 10 am and 12 noon at the Village Hall.

 In addition to serving tea, coffee, juice and yummy cakes & tray bakes, we are offering you the opportunity to get involved in doing your bit for the environment in relation to single use plastics and environmental degradation.

 At our café, you will be able to check out some of the Matthias Winter eco-products on sale for the home and you can also pick up pre-ordered refills of a selection of Matthias Winter’s home/personal, environment-friendly cleaning items listed on the  order form.

 To pre-order, complete the attached form (including your name), bring the form and your empty containers to the village shop by closing time on Wednesday 27 October, write your name and item on one of the sticky labels we have left in the shop (we’ll use the order form to get quantity & scent), stick the label on the appropriate containers and we’ll do the rest!

 If you don’t have a suitable container, you can purchase appropriate glass bottles with alternative tops to a standard screw-top from Matthias Winter (see order form). In this case, just drop off your completed order form at the shop. Your refills will be available to collect from the Matthias Winter table at the café. Payment on collection.

 Re-use and cut down on packaging!