Sustainable Bishopston are pleased to invite all Bishopston voters to meet and ask questions of the Bristol City Council electoral candidates for the Bishopston Ward.

Voting takes place on Thursday [...]]]> Bishopston Ward Council Elections Hustings
On Tuesday 30th April, 7.30 PM – 9.30 PM
At St Michaels Church Hall, 160a Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NT

Sustainable Bishopston are pleased to invite all Bishopston voters to meet and ask questions of the Bristol City Council electoral candidates for the Bishopston Ward.

Voting takes place on Thursday 2nd May so this will be a timely opportunity to hear the candidates introduce themselves and ask the questions that matter to you. Come, ask, listen, decide, vote!

After 14 years as a Bishopston councillor, Bev Knott is standing down. Six candidates are standing for election: Kye Dudd (Labour Party), Chris Farrell (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts), Chris Harris (Liberal Democrat), John Hickey (Independents for Bristol), Richard Manns (Conservative Party) and Daniella Radice, (Green Party).

Questions for the candidates can be submitted on the night or can be emailed in advance to hustings@sustainablebishopston.org.uk

[Update: You can email questions up to 4pm on Tuesday 30th. Please address questions to all the candidates - not a to specific candidate. All candidates will be given the opportunity to answer every question. Please try to keep your questions relevant to the role of a local councillor. Whilst questions of national politics are valid (at least for those candidates standing under the banner of a national political party), in many cases a Bristol Councillor will have little influence over national issues - so please save those questions for national elections. We'd like to encourage questions with a strong relevance to Bishopston and/or Bristol]

The Bishopston electoral ward has slightly different boundaries to other definitions of the Bishopston area. It’s on both sides of Gloucester Road roughly from Nailsea Electrical / Texaco up to Muller Road / Horfield Common. If you’re not sure which ward you’re in please check your poll card when you receive it or use Bristol City Council’s ward map or online Ward Finder.

Ciaran and Sarah from the project came to explain the background and workings of the currency at local trader La Ruca, who kindly provided their cafe for the evening, having just fully registered for the currency.

We heard the [...]]]> March’s Sustainable Bishopston meeting focussed on our Bristol Pound, the new complimentary currency in the city.

Ciaran and Sarah from the project came to explain the background and workings of the currency at local trader La Ruca, who kindly provided their cafe for the evening, having just fully registered for the currency.

We heard the origins of the idea to bring a local currency to Bristol as a positive way to strengthen the local economy, in response to the damage it suffers from large scale business supply chains and the takeover of our high streets by chain stores. Ciaran explained how this largely volunteer led project had negotiated all the issues needed to get a currency into existence and launched in the city – an event which gained substantial international media exposure as it’s the first city-wide currency in Britain. Sarah discussed how the project is very much a community effort, with users, traders, and supporters all playing their part to get the use and growth of the currency in place – thinking of new ways to increase the circulation and to strengthen bonds between traders, users. We discussed ways to encourage offering it as change, asking for it during transactions, and getting new businesses on board. “Are you taking the Bristol Pound yet?”

The tourist aspect was one topic – how it brings visitors off the beaten track into the independent sector of the city when they visit. Also the day to day use by businesses who can trade between themselves once they accumulate Bristol Pounds. We can all explore new ways to support he local economy, and buy spending £B we discussed how this keeps funds circulating locally far more times than just shopping in traders with £ sterling. The £B can be used to pay business rates, offer for staff wages, and traded to get a wide range of business and professional services too.

They suggested it’s often helpful if a regular Standing Order from your bank account to your £B account with the Bristol Credit Union is made to allow funds for monthly shopping

Making a text payment was demonstrated – something that uses a simple mobile phone between 2 users or a customer and trader (you text to the person’s user name, instead of the usual trader name)- and is far cheaper than electronic payment options.

The importance of TXT2PAY being that it takes the currency into new payment methods and free from the beautiful £B notes – all 4 denominations designed in a community competition  - but expensive to produce. The on line accounts are held through Bristol Credit Union, who host the system, and are partners with the new currency.

We were told that in 2 years there will be a new issue of the notes as the current ‘vouchers’ in circulation will be withdrawn into collectors items.

We left thinking this is a great local success story with many more aspects than at first obvious – and one that needs us all to play our part.

http://bristolpound.org/    - to register an account and for all the info needed.

https://www.facebook.com/BristolPound     - has links to many traders’ pages.

Copied from the excellent Bristol Local Food Update

Discarded food and preparation leftovers comprise one of the most problematic wastes for a café or restaurant. Yet a food waste collection alongside dry recyclables is not always practical or viable for smaller premises. This is the challenge now being tackled in a [...]]]> Written by Martin Fodor

Copied from the excellent Bristol Local Food Update

Discarded food and preparation leftovers comprise one of the most problematic wastes for a café or restaurant. Yet a food waste collection alongside dry recyclables is not always practical or viable for smaller premises. This is the challenge now being tackled in a local initiative in the city.

May/June’s newsletter reported a survey of food and others wastes from a cluster of cafés and restaurants. One of the conclusions of this exercise is that tackling the problem as a group should be more effective than each café or restaurant trying to deal with the problem individually. This piece updates readers on the progress towards an innovative project to develop a commercial food waste collection service for clusters of local food hospitality premises.

Service specification

Work is now underway in the Stokes Croft area to identify key features of a service specification that will meet multiple premises’ needs, ensure responsible management of food waste, and improve the street scene. This initiative is intended to pilot a collective arrangement that will maximise benefits for the traders, the environment and the community. This should then be available to more areas of the city and create a solution to a pressing problem that’s ever more expensive and environmentally undesirable: how to ensure unavoidable food waste does not end up in landfill.

Following the report in the newsletter the author had the opportunity to present the finding to the Stokes Croft Traders’ group, the area surveyed. This session helped them to understand the common issues they faced and explore the way informal solutions and irregular collections did not necessarily meet their needs or secure them against risks from their waste causing problems.

The session started with a positive look at their area which identified what’s great about Stokes Croft as a food destination: its diversity and social hub effect, and the quality of local food on offer. This provided a positive perspective with participants keen to develop the idea of a local service that will be available to them and their colleagues.

To find the shape of a viable food waste programme for local food businesses we then identified what businesses need in terms of practicalities, highlighting what would be good for the community and good for the environment, as well as issues of cost. Martin stressed the goal is a service costing no more than current waste services, and preferably less. There should also be support for waste reduction alongside the collection.

While the possibility of shared storage compounds to bring waste bins together and improve the street scene was raised it was agreed this would take a lot longer to resolve or agree. The group therefore agreed to consider how to get an initial contract in place that might be offered to each business on Stokes Croft. At least one contractor had in fact agreed to offer better rates the more companies opt in, and to handle notice of termination of current contracts so the service can be phased in.

The group thought that advice for staff, and information for customers, as well as ways to promote the (hoped-for) innovative service would be helpful and worthwhile to highlight what goes on in Stokes Croft. Staff were also keen to see how their waste was being treated.

At the time of writing businesses in the area are providing details to enable the service requirement and the scale of the task to be collated so prospective contractors can be asked for their pitch. With other areas like Harbourside already interested in something similar the project looks set to develop something that could benefit many more businesses in the city. There has also been interest from Business West’s Go Green initiative and Bristol Green Capital who are keen to see this environmental improvement in the area.

The water industry tries to maintain a balance between profit and ethics. It is monitored by Ofwat and observes the Biodiversity Action Plan for species protection. It is aware of its own carbon footprint and sources renewable energy. It produces gas from sewage [...]]]> Each person uses on average 150 litres of water for every day.

The water industry tries to maintain a balance between profit and ethics. It is monitored by Ofwat and observes the Biodiversity Action Plan for species protection.
It is aware of its own carbon footprint and sources renewable energy. It produces gas from sewage and uses it to generate electricity.
Sewage treatment is monitored closely with tighter controls on effluent. Advice is given to farmers regarding fertiliser and pesticide use. Reed beds and slag from the steel industry are used to extract phosphorous.

Roads disruption is lessened by the use of through pipe drilling and replacement with plastic pipes.

The scientific consensus on climate change provides a strategic theme for the water industry. South eastern parts of England are likely to face water shortages and hose-pipe bans. Excessive melting of Arctic sea ice may lead to disruptions of weather patterns. SW England might receive heavier rainfall. The water industry will seek to maintain water quality inspite of increasing warmth and rise in odours. River flows are likely to reduce at times, but flooding could threaten the industry’s plant.

Drinking water quality is maintained. Average UK water metering is 50%, but within Bristol it is 37%. House moves and new housing are possible vehicles for meter expansion. Smart meters should encourage domestic water monitoring. Waste water can be used for gardening and grey water for toilets. Further water refinement domestically might incur an energy cost. People who have problems paying their water bills are advised to seek help from the Citizen Advice Bureau.

Leaks from water pipes are targeted by Ofwat. Lower water pressure and improved technology have led to improvements in leakages.

Daniella Radice will give an overview of the Green Party’s philosophy and principles and talk about the Bristol Green Party.

Please come – whatever your political views and hear what the Green Party offers.

A great day out (despite the cold and damp), over 500 attended.

Lots more photos available online here.

Resource Futures is “a dedicated consultancy, offering all-round expertise in waste management and resource conservation”. [...]]]> Some notes on the meeting from Sarah Thomson:

Ella Williams, from Resource Futures, presented a very detailed and useful outline of the changes which are taking place to Bristol’s waste recycling, following the City Councilʼs agreement with May Gurney, which began last July.

Resource Futures is “a dedicated consultancy, offering all-round expertise in waste management and resource conservation”. You might see Ella and colleagues doing the rounds of local retailers, helping to answer questions about the changes.

The changes are taking place gradually across the city. Some areas are already using the new service but many are still waiting for their new bins. Most will have already noticed a change to their collection days. By July 2012, all parts of Bristol will have adopted the new system.

Some answers to questions asked at our recent meeting, from Ella Williams:

1. Wheelie bins not collected due to excess waste

Questions were raised regarding what will happen if people’s wheelie bins aren’t taken due to being overfilled – there was concern this would create a snowball effect for the following collections. May Gurney will empty the bin and then put any side waste back into the bin to be collected again in 2 weeks.  If the bin has no side waste but is “top hatting” (lid not closing) then we are assuming the crews will empty the bin and leave the one/two bags on top in the bin, although this may not be possible if the material in the bin is not bagged. It is hoped that by leaving waste, this could encourage residents to check their waste extra carefully to see if any further recyclables can be removed from waste/bin bags.

2. Grades of Plastic

Plastic that can go into the green box

• Type 1 PET – most plastics from the kitchen cupboard, bathroom and under the kitchen sink, and tubs, trays and pots.
• Type 2 HDPE – milk bottles, some toiletry bottles and pots
• Type 5 PP – bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt pots, margarine tubs
• Type 6 PS – vending cups, meat trays

Plastic not to go into the green box

• Type 3 PVC or V –  e.g. plastic pipes, hard plastics (garden furniture), plastic toys, CD/DVD cases, shrink wrap
• Type 4 LDPE – plastic bags and films such as carrier bags and bin liners, crisp packets, bread bags, frozen food bags, bubble wrap
• Expanded polystyrene foam, and flower pots (normally type 6 and type 5 respectively)
• Black plastic no matter what the type

As you can see some type 5 and 6 materials can go in and some can’t and this is part of the reason why this information will not be given to the residents when they receive their box as it is confusing. Finding and seeing the type number on materials can be quite challenging for those with visual impairment.

When you receive the green box a new service leaflet will be provided, please read this to ensure you are putting in the right materials into their relevant box.

3. Recycling labels

There was some discussion around recycling labels on packaging.

This link explains recycling symbols: http://www.recyclenow.com/why_recycling_matters/recycling_symbols.html

4. Can black plastics be taken to the supermarket recycling points?

Recycling points at supermarkets fall under a different contract and therefore are subject to different processes. I have tried contacting Tescos regarding this but have only had a vague reply saying all items put in for recycling are taken to a recycling plant where they are sorted into items which can be recycled and those that cannot, those that cannot would be sent to landfill.

Please contact the supermarket themselves, or read the information on the side of the recycling points there to find out exactly what can be recycled in there and what can’t.

5. How are Tetra Paks recycled?

These types of cartons are typically made of three main materials – paperboard, low-density polyethylene and aluminium foil. The cartons are dropped into a machine called a “pulper” where the cartons become “delaminate” (split into thin layers), the paper content can then be turned into new products like toilet paper, tissue and notebooks. The plastic and aluminium can also be recovered to make things like roof tiles or plastic pots. Tetra Paks from Bristol are taken off for recycling with cardboard to Sittingbourne in Kent.

6. Can greeting cards be recycled?

Either re-use old greeting cards as postcards or gift tags; or small amounts can be recycled with your paper in your black box or if you are on the new service put it into your green box.

The Woodland Trust team up with high street retailers such as WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer every January in a campaign to recycle Christmas cards – The cards collected in stores are taken to WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx and M&S depots, where they are collected by their own recycling agents. The cards are then graded and taken to recycling plants where they are treated and eventually turned into new products such as tissue paper, photocopy paper or corrugated cardboard.

7. Textiles

Only wearable clothes should be put into the black box for recycling.  Please do not put in puffer jackets or coats; or any wet textiles. Shoes should be tied in pairs to keep them together. The clothes are sent abroad for people in developing countries to wear.

8. Jam Jar Lids

There was discussion around which box jam jar type lids go into. If you have received your green box they can be placed in there along with plastic tops.  If you have not received you green box yet they are put in the black box along with other metals.

Bristol City Council suggests that you could also re-use the jam jar lids to raise plant pots off the ground to let water drain away.

9. Wellies

There was discussion around whether wellies can go in the black box. Bristol City Council advertises that you can either re-use the wellies by cutting them down to use as slip-ons or you could plant things in them. Alternatively give them to your local charity shop.