Residents, businesses and organisations are invited to comment on proposals to rethink waste in Essex.

Residents, businesses and organisations can now have their say on ambitious plans for managing waste in Essex, as part of a new consultation.

The Essex Waste Partnership - the county and 12 district, city and borough councils in Essex - has drafted a new, joint waste strategy.

The draft strategy sets out how the partnership is rethinking waste and its proposals for managing it over the next 30 years. This includes the actions people and organisations can take to protect the environment and conserve resources.

It also outlines the partnership’s vision of ‘zero waste.’ The principle of ‘zero waste’ means reusing, recycling and recovering everything we can from resources and materials.

This will ensure we are getting the most value out of them and minimising any environmental impact at the same time.

The draft strategy also emphasises the need to rethink how residual waste is managed, with options put forward for the county.

The consultation, which launches today (Wednesday 13 September), asks people what they think of the draft strategy.

Chairman of the Essex Waste Partnership and Essex County Council’s Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Councillor Peter Schwier, said:

“This is an important document which will influence the future of waste management in Essex for the next 30 years. It sets out how we can build on the positive progress we have already made as a county. We also want to go even further for the benefit of residents, businesses and the environment.

 “We believe what we are proposing is not only vital to addressing the significant pressures of climate change, but it will also save money for taxpayers and public services in the long-term. However, we haven't made any final decisions. We’re here to listen to what residents and businesses have to say about the draft strategy and use what they tell us to inform the final version.”

The consultation will run for 10 weeks until Wednesday 22 November.

A series of in-person and online information events have been set up to provide people living and working in Essex with an opportunity to find out more about the draft strategy and ask questions.

These can be booked using the following links:

• Tuesday 19 September, 6pm to 7.30pm, Colchester Library
• Thursday 28 September, 6pm to 7.30pm, online
• Tuesday 3 October, 6pm to 7.30pm, Chelmsford Library
• Thursday 5 October, 6pm to 7.30pm, Great Parndon Library, Harlow
• Monday 9 October, 6pm to 7.30pm, Billericay Library
• Monday 6 November, 6pm to 7.30pm, online

An independent organisation will analyse all the consultation responses. The Essex Waste Partnership will use these to inform the final strategy. This will be shared in 2024.

The draft Waste Strategy for Essex 2024-2054 and consultation are available here: essex.gov.uk/wastestrategy.

Anyone who requires support completing the survey can call 0345 6037625. The strategy and survey are also available in different languages and formats upon request.