The overall idea behind an Resource Recovery Park (RRP) is to treat waste as a valuable resource rather than a costly problem. If we are to deal with major issues like global warming and sustainable development we need to make more careful use of the earth’s resources and to do something about the increasing amount of waste that our society produces. We must make more efficient use of energy and look for renewable sources rather than continue our reliance on fossil fuels, we must conserve vital mineral resources and produce less waste.

Each year, for example, we throw away over 900,000 tonnes of electrical products, this includes such items as televisions, toys, computers and washing machines. This level of waste is rising year on year as we use and replace existing products. Many discarded items can be re-used or else valuable components removed for re-use. Electrical goods that cannot be re-used contain around 40% ferrous metal, 20% plastic, 11% copper, 6 % aluminium, 6% glass together with precious metal, lead, mercury, flame retardants and other materials.

New environmental legislation which has emanated from the European Union is now really driving business and society to do something about the waste produced. In the last ten years there has been a raft of legislation including the:

• Batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances directive (1991);
• Hazardous Waste Directive (1991);
• Packaging and packing waste Directive (1994);
• Landfill Directive (1999);
• End of Life Vehicles (ELV) (2000);
• Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (2002)

This new legislation is forcing us as individuals to think more carefully, but it is also providing major opportunities for business. There will be a growth in the ‘Environmental Technologies’ sector founded on the principles of more sustainable development operating on a commercial basis providing wealth and jobs.