Finding an ally in public opinion: A strategy for the waste sector

Decades of mistrust and isolation have made many in the waste industry reluctant to participate in public environmental debate. But the industry is facing increasing pressure to talk to "stakeholders" - in part to win public confidence in landfills and incinerators, but also to encourage people to use recycling services. Ten years after the chemical industry launched "Responsible Care" in the UK, there are now signs that waste managers are also emerging from their shell - amid a realisation that consensus-building will form an essential component of any strategy for sustainable waste management.