1. LARAC presentation TAG Meeting 9th Oct 2009 Mark McAdoo (NI Regional representative) Cookstown District Council

2. What is LARAC? Formed in 1985 to represent the emerging voice of local government waste/recycling officers Full membership open to any local authority in the UK Currently 401 members (91% of local authorities with a waste function) N Ireland – 17 members (65%)

3. Who is involved? LARAC is run by an Executive of 20 volunteers employed by Local Authorities Comprising 6 National Representatives and 12 Regional Representatives from the 3 devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the 9 Administrative regions of England 2 Co-opted members including the current Recycling Officer of the Year Within the Executive - 2 full time staff, 1 policy secondee and 2 part time officers for Conference and Training.

4. LARAC Mission To provide quality representation for local authority officers on recycling and waste management issues

5. LARAC Core Principles Waste generation must be stopped at source wherever possible – products should be designed for durability, repair and re-use Discarded materials should be collected to be recycled or composted Where recycling isn’t possible material should be processed so as to recover useful stable organic material and/or energy Use of landfill should be reduced to the absolute minimum

6. Aims and Objectives To inform and lobby key opinion formers and policy makers on LARAC members behalf To ensure that relevant and timely information is shared amongst LARAC members and that they are consulted on a regular basis To progress recycling and resource management in the UK through the actions and input of LARAC members

7. Engaging and Campaigning Represent Local Government views at meetings with government, industry and other bodies all over the country – over 130 times last year! Develop partnerships and policy alliances with other organisations We liaise with 50 external bodies representing local authority views Shape policy and legislation through advising government and industry (building relations with key policy makers) Providing informed and realistic viewpoints for the media

8. Responding to Government and EU consultations on members behalf DEFRA – Revised Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice (Aug 09) H M Treasury – Modernising landfill tax legislation (July 09) BERR – Proposed revisions to the WEEE Directive (May 09) EU – Green Paper on Biowaste (Mar 09)

9. Developing Policy Positions Waste Minimisation Recycling/Reuse Composting Residual Waste Treatment and Energy Recovery Funding and Investment (including disposal)

10. Working to facilitate training provision With: WRAP DEFRA – New and Emerging Technologies Training Programme Wastepack Middlesex and Huddersfield Universities Energy and Utility Skills

11. LARAC National and Regional Meetings Example year 2008 13 th MayLARAC Scotland Meeting 14 th MayMRW Scotland Conference 26 th June LARAC East Meets Waste Conference 9 th JulyLARAC/WLGA/WAG Wales Conference 16 th –18 th SeptRWM08 11 NovemberLARAC Members’ Day 12 th -13 th DecemberLARAC Conference

12. LARAC Annual Conference

13. Conference and Pre-Conference Members Day Pre-Conference Members Day Two day Conference Conference is CIWM training accredited for continuing professional development The LARAC Recycling Awards Wastepack Scholarship Programme

14. Information Provision Key aspect of the support provided is to: -Provide an information service and networking service and -Develop and disseminate good practice amongst our members Information services provided to members include the following:

15. Sponsored by EDITORIAL – Written by our Communications Officer CHAIR’S REPORT – Joy Blizzard POLICY – written by a member of the policy team –Recent Policy Responses – feedback on responses made on members behalf –Policy Question – set on a current issue by a member of the policy team NEWS INFORMATION EXCHANGE – link to the latest issues being discussed LIAISONS – Latest reports from the Exec on meetings attended on members behalf EVENTS VACANCIES Circulated on the first Wednesday of every month

16. www.larac.org.uk

17. New home page, regional sections etc.

18. Members Forum

19. The Loop Issue 24 Issue 25

20. Summary - Membership Benefits Policy responses to government consultations Discounts to courses and conferences Monthly Email newsletter LARAC OnLine and Quarterly Loop magazine Free vacancy advertising on the LARAC website Network of information, support and advice

21. A couple of examples of how confusing waste management can be............

24. For further information Visit www.larac.org.ukwww.larac.org.uk Email larac@btinternet.comlarac@btinternet.com Contact Colin Kirkby, Executive Officer LARAC, PO Box 28 Knighton, LD8 2WA Tel: 01544 267860 or me… Mark McAdoo, Waste Manager/Senior Technical Officer, Cookstown District Council Tel: 8676 2205