ETCIC took part in a recent best practice mission in waste management to the Netherlands.

The visit to Holland was organized by the Netherlands British Chambers of Commerce and honed in on the Dutch best practices in waste management and composting.

The visit emphasised the fact that waste management issues really have been engrained into the hearts and minds of individuals, with individual responsibility very much shaping Dutch waste management policy.

The British delegation saw a number of best practices examples in composting and waste management.

One of the key facts evidenced was that waste in Holland is very much treated as an opportunity, and this was exemplified by and incinerator plant visited by the delegation, which is run in many ways like a visitor attraction.

There were many representatives from UK local authorities on the visit. Shaun Alexander of the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority stated, "The Dutch visit was very enlightening in seeing the way waste management and composting is treated as an opportunity to be embraced by the whole of the local community. A similar attitude and approach needs to be taken in the UK, if we are to succeed in implementing our national and regional waste strategies."