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Monmouth & District Friends of the Earth |
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Welcome to the web page of Monmouth & District Friends of the Earth Group Page updated 16th March 08 We are one of a large number of local Friends of the Earth Groups throughout the UK, whose members want to make a positive difference to where they live. We are a new group, having started in summer 2005. We are already active in a number of campaigns locally, and are pleased to see the first of these come to fruition. Concern about Household Waste Collection Systems We have praised the present weekly source-separated collection of glass, paper, cans and textiles operating over much of Monmouthshire, now provided by Monmouthshire Community Recycling on behalf of the Council. We would like to see it extended to more homes and to include plastics collections. We are therefore opposed to current proposals to change to a fortnightly collection of co-mingled dry recyclables, though we accept a move towards fortnightly collections of residual waste (as long as there are weekly collections of food waste). We believe the current black box system is working well, so why change it? Why use costly labour to separate waste when we can do it ourselves? The new proposals fly in the face of the findings of the Welsh Assembly Government that kerbside-sorted recycling costs less and is better for the environment. We believe that co-mingled collections are likely to result in less recycling and reduced public perception of the value of recycling, and greater transportation (perhaps to a Cardiff materials recycling facility (MRF), which we are concerned is a step towards incineration of residual waste to which we are opposed). Source separation means less contamination of recyclables and therefore collects the increasingly demanded, higher value, better quality materials for recycling. Compaction by the householder and on the vehicle of co-mingled recycling makes some impossible to recycle. Source separation has lower capital costs, increased revenue from sale of recyclate and more local jobs. It can be better for collecting things like batteries and textiles. Click here for more information on FoE’s views on the issue. This is an issue that should be raised with candidates in the May county council elections, and we also encourage Monmouthshire residents to write to the Chief Executive at County Hall supporting source-separation and local recycling.
Walking and Cycling Group. We are supporting Monmouth Partnership Forum in a project to improve routes and facilities for walkers and cyclists who want to get around town more easily. The Forum has held a mapping day to develop a map of potential routes that connect the 'suburbs' with the town. We were very pleased to hear the news that the Monmouth scheme will benefit from the successful Connect 2 Sustrans bid, and look forward to the construction of two bridges and connecting cycle and walking routes across the town. Energy and climate change. The 'Energy Gap' that we face in the near future, and how this might be filled by alternative sources (renewables, energy efficiency and nuclear) is of particular concern to our group. This is not an issue that we can afford to ignore because it will affect us all. A small group of members is investigating the potential for providing a biodiesel supply for interested motorists in Monmouthshire. Biodiesel, made from recycled catering vegetable oil, could provide a part of the solution to this impending crisis. Car Free Day. We collected signatures on car free day in Sept 2007 so that we can show that there is support for the idea of a car free day in Monmouth in 2008. We will be trying to persuade the local Councils that partial closure of one street for part of the day would be a useful exercise, and would provide pedestrians with a more enjoyable shopping experience in town. Plastic bags! We share the concern of many people over the number of plastic bags that are consumed every day, and the pollution and environmental damage they cause. Plastic bags are not necessary in most cases, but they are very convenient! We have asked local supermarkets to change their practice of automatically offering customers plastic bags for their shopping. Marks and Spencers has been very helpful, but we have been disappointed by the response from the other supermarkets in Monmouth. We have been inspired by the example of Modbury, who have managed to rid their town of plastic carrier bags. We are working with Monmouth Partnership Forum to provide 'Big Green Monmouth Shopper' fabric bags for shoppers in Monmouth, and hope that these will be available soon. We are an enthusiastic group of
local people, and new members are always welcome at our meetings, which take
place on the second Monday of each month at 7.30pm prompt at the Methodist
Church Hall, St James Street, Monmouth (almost opposite the Queen's Head).
Apologies to anyone who has found our various meeting venue moves of late
difficult to follow - we hope we now have a more settled meeting place! Forthcoming meetings as follows: Farmers' Market dates
10am to 1pm, 4th Saturday of each month: To find out about Welsh
campaigns, visit
Friends of the Earth Cymru's web site. |
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Contact Us By email
sueparkinson@phonecoop.coop
if you want more information. |
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Starting a farmers'
market in Monmouth. The first Farmers' Market took place on
July 22nd 2006, on the picturesque Monnow Bridge. We are very proud to
be associated with it. It was well supported by a range of local
producers including vegetables, plants, bread, salads, wine, ready meals,
local meat and fish and even hand made chocolates. The stall
holders were pleased with the number of customers. We have a stall at
most markets, selling cotton carrier bags for all that local food, and
information about environmental issues. Thank you to the many
local people who are continuing to support the market.
Recycling.
We
are concerned that there are no facilities for recycling some difficult
materials, in particular batteries and light bulbs. We are
continuing to encourage the County Council to collect plastics for
recycling. We have met with representatives of Monmouthshire
County Council and MCR who run the kerbside black box recycling scheme
and met our MP to find out more about the issues and to discuss what might
be possible to improve local services. We held a
recycling awareness day near the Monnow Bridge on Saturday 17th June
2006, attended by MCR. Although we weren't allowed to set up our stall
in the busiest part of town, we were heartened that everyone we spoke to
recycles what they can, but many, like us were frustrated by what they are
unable to recycle. We collected comments on the current recycling
services from passers-by which were forwarded to the Leader of Monmouthshire
Council. A large majority of these wanted to see plastics recycled
along with other materials in the Black Box scheme, others simply wanted the
Black Box scheme to serve their area.