A
group of twenty representatives of British local authorities and
companies involved in waste management recently visited The Netherlands
to see, feel and smell the ways in which the Dutch are applying waste
management solutions in their country.
The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most advanced countries concerning
the use of waste management solutions. In line with the British need for
the development of strategies and solutions regarding waste management,
the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce recently organised a 2-day
fact finding mission to The Netherlands.
The participants first visited an exhibition of waste processing
companies at the RAI (Amsterdam) and then attended a seminar where
several sector professionals gave presentations about Dutch waste
management dynamics, implemented innovations and efficient strategies.
After the seminar a network reception and dinner was organised for all
delegates. The second day of the mission included a visit to a large
waste collection and processing plant in the North of Holland (GP Groot),
and a visit to one of the world’s most modern and efficient incineration
plants with energy recovery in Amsterdam (AEB).
Last Friday, the fact finding mission was completed and all twenty
participants returned to the UK. Commenting on the results of the visit,
Alison Hunter of the Cheshire Waste Partnership, one of the
participants, notes “I found the case studies from the authorities on
the first day extremely useful, and the visits the second day were a
real eye opener, future visits I feel would be a benefit to the UK waste
industry, especially from a local authority point of view looking at
best practice within other local authorities/ waste businesses in the
Netherlands”.
Pleased with the success of the fact finding mission to the Netherlands,
Jochem Geheniau of the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce adds “By
organising this fact finding trip, participants were able to obtain an
insight into the dynamics and applied solutions of an advanced waste
management infrastructure…we hope this will contribute to the further
development of waste management solutions in the UK”.
In September 2005, the NBCC is planning to organise a counter visit to
the UK for Dutch waste management companies during the Recycling and
Waste Management exhibition at the NEC.
For a full report or further information, please contact the Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce, +44 20 7539 7960, london@nbcc.co.uk.