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The community waste sector and waste services in the UK: Current state and future prospects

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  • Sharp, Liz
  • Luckin, David

Abstract

Theory predicts that the voluntary or community sector will contribute a range of services that are not delivered by the state or private sectors. This paper examines the changing contributions of the community waste sector in the UK to reflect upon these claims. A rosy picture of the community waste sector is presented from research on the sector in 2002, with a growing number of organisations carrying out a range of services, drawing on multiple and diverse sources of funding. More recent evidence, and information drawn from outside the sector, however, suggests that regulation, competition, and changes to funding regimes are putting the sector under considerable pressure, such that it is likely to change, and that some parts of it will contract. In terms of the claims from theory, the paper finds evidence that the community sector can and has been innovative in the services it provides and the way that it provides them, though similar innovations may emerge from the private and public sectors. The sparse evidence on participation and recycling rates in kerbside and civic amenity sites are equivocal on whether the sector provides enhanced communication as theory would predict. Overall, the paper highlights the difficulty in achieving direct comparisons between the waste sectors without specific focused research for this purpose. It concludes that the challenge for European, national and local government is to influence the necessarily constructed waste markets in a way which will enhance rather than discourage service providers to innovate in the waste material collected, and to communicate effectively with the public whom they serve. Such policies promise to encourage the effective delivery of sustainable waste services from all three – public, private and community – sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharp, Liz & Luckin, David, 2006. "The community waste sector and waste services in the UK: Current state and future prospects," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 277-294.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:47:y:2006:i:3:p:277-294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.12.001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Slater, R. & Frederickson, J. & Thomas, C. & Wield, D. & Potter, S., 2007. "A critical evaluation of partnerships in municipal waste management in England," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 643-664.
    2. Marques, Rui Cunha & Simões, Pedro, 2008. "Does the sunshine regulatory approach work?," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(8), pages 1040-1049.
    3. Gregson, Nicky & Crang, Mike & Laws, Jennifer & Fleetwood, Tamlynn & Holmes, Helen, 2013. "Moving up the waste hierarchy: Car boot sales, reuse exchange and the challenges of consumer culture to waste prevention," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 97-107.
    4. Curran, Anthony & Williams, Ian D. & Heaven, Sonia, 2007. "Management of household bulky waste in England," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 78-92.
    5. Curran, A. & Williams, I.D., 2010. "The role of furniture and appliance re-use organisations in England and Wales," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(10), pages 692-703.
    6. Simões, Pedro & Marques, Rui Cunha, 2011. "How does the operational environment affect utility performance? A parametric study on the waste sector," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 695-702.
    7. Alexander, Catherine & Smaje, Chris, 2008. "Evaluating third sector reuse organisations in the UK: Case-studies and analysis of furniture reuse schemes," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 719-730.
    8. Bel, Germà & Warner, Mildred, 2008. "Does privatization of solid waste and water services reduce costs? A review of empirical studies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(12), pages 1337-1348.

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