Waste escalation

As reports of new measures to combat excessive household waste going to landfill are debated in the UK, the free newspaper publishers of the World carry on merry in the knowledge that their industry has never had it so good.

Record breaking profits and circulation figures continue to be reported in the press. Metro International have reported more than the first profit ($13m) ever for the company. Metro UK are looking forward to increased revenue later this year when they increase their circulation within the ever competitive market of London by producing a further 200,000 copies of their morning edition free paper, Metro. And City AM publishers have announced that they will be looking to publish their title in Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Paris and Amsterdam.

Free newspapers are now being 'given away' on the streets of 50 countries around the globe. And Israel may soon be the first country with more free than paid-for papers being distributed.



Now If anyone was under the impression that free papers are incidental publications that pose no threat to municipal services they should perhaps pay close attention to the outcome of the current 'Westminster versus Associated and News International' battle that is panning out behind closed doors in London. And how long will it be before the likes of Tokyo and New York have a similar problem to London's already excessive free paper distribution fiasco?

Right now, the free paper publishers are making huge savings off the fact that no-one has yet been able to force them to contribute to the clean up of their product. When this type of legislation is put into effect will the free newspaper business model continue to be so attractive to publishers?

Metro meeting

A big thankyou to Kenny Campbell (editor), Don Gray (distribution) and Karen Wall (marketing) from Metro.

After a request sent from Project Freesheet we were invited to sit round the table to discuss the issues raised by Project Freesheet.

Of course we disagreed on a few points but the fact remains that Metro have invited us in, explained to us their point of view, told us about what they are trying to do to deal with the lack of recycling and enabled us to carry on with our campaign further enriched in the hope that positive actions will result.

If only the other free paper publishers were half as responsible. This issue, for me, keeps coming back to producer responsibility. And Metro appear to be doing their bit; though is it enough?

But what of the other free newspaper producers? Are they doing their bit?