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Revd. Jon Hale produces an occasional publication that he distributes, free of 
charge, as a pdf document by e-mail. It is called Stewarding the Earth's Resources, and deals with current issues in waste planning. It aims to encourage Christians to take a responsible approach to new waste developments, and presents a balanced summary of current ethical, practical and spiritual issues in a non-technical way.
Here is an extract from the July edition of the publication, entitled: 'Behavioural Change and the Social Context of Household Waste Management':
'How can behaviour be changed so that greater quantities of household waste are recycled and composted? A recent conference for waste managers and recycling officers gives an insight into current research.
A study of households on a housing estate in south London shows that where family relations are broken, the natural flow of unwanted objects within an extended family is blocked and objects are more likely to appear as rubbish, and may potentially be dumped illegally as fly-tipping. The reliability of normal familial exchanges must be extended to waste collection.
A study of community waste projects shows the great number and variety of such projects. Community recycling schemes are a valuable forum for social learning as well as a means of increasing recycling rates, but it is difficult to measure their success.
Research shows four groupings in society that act in environmentally distinct ways. Each group requires a different message about personal environmental responsibility. There is a significant role for incentives among specific lifestyle groups.
Waste managers and recycling officers support penalties and incentives to encourage a greater level of household waste recycling but it is recognised that introduction requires political will, and that an incentive-based approach is preferable to one based on penalties.
Theological reflection encompasses: Romans 7:18-20; the appropriateness and effectiveness of penalties and incentives as Governmental tools to change human behaviour; and the role of local churches in community waste projects.
The Church of England’s recent report Sharing God’s Planet sets out the scale of humankind’s responsibility for altering the planet over the last 100 years. It also provides Biblical and theological reflection and suggests a practical Christian response. But nowhere does it acknowledge that difficult environmental decisions are being made every day by waste management businesses, and by County, District and Borough Councils as they decide planning applications, and that everyone may have a role in influencing planning decisions. Some of the most contentious planning decisions are those that concern development proposals for waste management and disposal.'
If you would like to receive Stewarding the Earth's Resources you can e-mail Jon at aj@jkcahale.co.uk and he will put you on his list.
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