Pathway To Zero Waste formally launched by Rt Hon Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Date: March 3rd 2009

"We hope the impact of our launch event will be felt far and wide, and send a clear signal that the time is right for organisations across the region to join the Pathway and play their part in releasing the considerable benefits that diverting waste from landfill will generate."
Dr Chindarat Taylor, Director, Pathway To Zero Waste

Pathway To Zero Waste was formally launched in Reading, Berkshire on Tuesday, 3 March. The launch event was attended by over 100 chief executives and other senior decision-makers from the South East region’s local authorities, construction, waste management, logistics and transport companies, large food and drink producers and retailers, financial institutions and waste recycling technology companies.

The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs delivered a keynote address, having already given his support for the initiative, stating: "It is imperative that we start to think of waste as a  resource wherever possible. Against a challenging economic background it is more important than ever that we enable businesses to find a market for materials which would otherwise be disposed of as waste."

Attendees at the invitation-only event also heard from Lord Chris Smith and Jim Brathwaite CBE, chairmen of the Environment Agency and SEEDA respectively, Mark Tant, Managing Director of Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, and Dr Chindarat Taylor, Director, Pathway To Zero Waste.

Commenting on the event, Dr Taylor said: "I’m absolutely delighted that such high calibre speakers have made the time in their extremely busy schedules to demonstrate their support for Pathway To Zero Waste."

"It’s a powerful statement of the importance they attach to the initiative and their personal commitment to making it a success."

"Over the next few years we have a fantastic opportunity to make the South East an exemplar of resource efficiency, reducing waste, costs and the region’s carbon footprint, while creating jobs and increasing prosperity at the same time."

"We hope the impact of our launch event will be felt far and wide, and send a clear signal that the time is right for organisations across the region to join the Pathway and play their part in releasing the considerable benefits that diverting waste from landfill will generate."