Recycling news: 2015

Industry news Glasgow driver Harry Clarke appears in Sheriff Court THE DRIVER of a bin lorry that careered into and killed six people refused to answer a series of questions when he was called to give evidence at the fatal accident inquiry into their deaths today (20 August). Henry Clarke – also known as Harry – confirmed his name, age, and told Glasgow Sheriff Court … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Aug 2015 Industry news Welsh recycling soars despite call for fines Local authorities in Wales achieved an overall recycling rate of 56% in 2014/15, provisional figures released by the Welsh Government today (August 20) indicate. The record performance comes in the wake of calls from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) for stronger powers to fine householders who do not recycle properly. According to the figures, … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Aug 2015 Industry news Surrey street leaves pose ‘low risk to health’ in compost EXCLUSIVE: The use of Surrey’s street-swept leaves in composting poses only a ‘low risk to human health’ if the material is first screened and routinely monitored, a ‘very large’ study carried out by the county council has concluded. letsrecycle.com video production During trials undertaken last year on behalf of all local authorities in Surrey, the … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Aug 2015 Industry news All lines now operational at Shanks’ Frog Island MBT All three of the waste processing lines at Shanks Group plc’s Frog Island mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility in East London are now operational more than a year after it was forced to shut down following a major fire. The waste firm announced this morning (August 20) that the third line which was damaged in … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Aug 2015 Industry news RCV driver to appear at Glasgow crash inquiry Refuse collection vehicle driver Harry Clarke is to appear for the first time today (August 20) at the fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of six people killed in December. The inquiry is being headed by John Beckett QC at Glasgow Sheriff Court, and has so far heard from representatives of the Health & Safety … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Aug 2015 Policy & government Local authority municipal waste management: January to March 2015 A report that provides information on the reuse, recycling and composting of municipal waste. GOV.UK · 20 Aug 2015 Council news Waste Permit Application - Northumberland County Council Northumberland Council · 20 Aug 2015 Industry news POWERDAY PROMOTES USE OF THE LONDON CANAL NETWORK Powerday has been promoting the London Canal Network to encourage the use of this more environmentally responsible transport option that avoids the congestion on London’s roads. When Powerday develo... Powerday · 19 Aug 2015 Industry news The Circular economy: To get it right we must address hazardous chemicals A Circular Economy is an important component of a future-focussed, sustainable, economy, and CHEM Trust therefore welcomes the European Commission’s current consultation on the Circular Economy. We have submitted a briefing to the consultation making recommendations for policies that are needed in order to ensure that the circular economy doesn’t end up perpetuating the use of […] CHEM Trust · 19 Aug 2015 Industry news Batteries sector set for shakeup after ‘portable’ ruling Waste batteries weighing more than 4kg will no longer be classed as ‘portable’ when they are presented for recycling, Defra has confirmed, in a move that could lead to an increase in compliance costs for battery producers. A decision on the reclassification of the material comes after a drawn out consultation process into the guidance … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 19 Aug 2015 Industry news Glasgow crash inquiry turns to council risk strategy North Lanarkshire council has reviewed its procedures to help prevent potential accidents caused by refuse collection vehicles, in light of the crash which killed six pedestrians involving an RCV in neighbouring Glasgow in December. Kenneth Wilson, the head of environment and estates for North Lanarkshire detailed the council’s approach during his submission to the Fatal … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 19 Aug 2015 Industry news Westminster seeks to double recycling by 2020 Westminster city council is separately tendering its refuse, recycling and food waste treatment services with a view to achieve its aspirational recycling target of 35%. The London borough requires a contractor to treat and dispose of between 115,000 and 180,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum from September 2017 until 2024 – with a possible … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 19 Aug 2015 Industry news Inspector defends HSE role in Glasgow crash investigation A senior HSE inspector has defended the organisation’s decision not to formally investigate the Glasgow refuse vehicle crash in December 2014 – before the release of medical information about the driver. The comments came during the latest hearing of the Fatal Accident Inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court into the deaths of six people on December … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 18 Aug 2015 Industry news PFCs: In our blood, in polar bears – and in packets of microwave popcorn! (updated with Danish controls) Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been used in some of our favourite products including waterproof clothing and non stick pans, but their persistence means they’re found all over the globe, in wildlife and in our blood and other tissues. As the amount of research showing the harmful effects of these widely used chemicals grows, many of them are […] CHEM Trust · 18 Aug 2015 Industry news Torfaen to bring in ‘skinny bins’ from September Torfaen county borough council is to begin the roll-out of its ‘skinny bins’ initiative from next month, with residents existing 240 litre capacity residual waste bins to be replaced with smaller containers. Between September and November 2015, the majority of residents in the south Wales borough will have their 240-litre black wheeled bin replaced with … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 18 Aug 2015 Industry news Court orders return of £350,000 in waste crime proceeds A Darlington man has been ordered to pay back £350,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act – after having pleaded guilty to running an illegal waste site. Tony Leigh Shepherd, 41, of Winston, Co Durham, pleaded guilty to two offences of operating an illegal waste site at West Musgrave Farm, St Helen Auckland, between August … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 18 Aug 2015 Industry news HSE’s decision not to probe Glasgow crash in spotlight A lawyer acting on behalf of the family of two victims of the refuse collection vehicle crash in Glasgow days before Christmas last year has questioned the Health & Safety Executive’s decision not to investigate the incident. The comments came at the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the incident, which occurred on December 22 2014. … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 18 Aug 2015 Industry news Waste Management Group Keeps Growing National independent waste management operator Cleansing Service Group (CSG) has announced another business acquisition – its sixth in two years. The Fareham headquartered company, whose services range from hazardous waste treatment and recovery to domestic off-mains drainage cleansing, has acquired the business and assets of Medway-based Tradebe Industrial Services (TIS) from international env… CSG (Cleansing Service Group) · 17 Aug 2015 Industry news News in brief – (17/08/2015) With news on: Selby green waste milestone; Recycle Week 2016; Glendullan AD facility; RDF export growth, and WM Tracey’s carbon reduction. Selby hits green waste milestone 80,000 tonnes of green waste have been collected for treatment from Selby district council residents since collections of the material began in 2001, the North Yorkshire council has announced. … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Aug 2015 Industry news Ayrshire residents urged to make their metals matter The latest MetalMatters campaign sees East, North and South Ayrshire Councils joining forces to call on residents to make their metals matter and boost household recycling of metal packaging across Ayrshire. Every year, more than 173 million* items of metal packaging are thrown away by Ayrshire households – that’s almost 20,000 drinks cans, food tins […] Alupro · 17 Aug 2015 Industry news MRWA and Viridor strike interim waste deal Viridor has entered into a short-term contract to treat 20,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel from Merseyside at its Runcorn energy from waste facility. The firm, which began processing the waste in July, will carry out the service on behalf of the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) until March 2016 – with an optional six … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Aug 2015 Industry news UK investment boost for uncertain plastics sector Two substantial capital investments have been revealed by businesses producing recycled plastic products against a background of concern over exports of scrap plastic to China. The spending comes as the prices for used plastics materials continue to fall in the wake of declining oil prices, although sector experts have told letsrecycle.com that the sector should … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Aug 2015 Global CEPI’s response to public consultation on the Circular Economy CEPI replied to the European Commission’s public consultation on the circular economy in July. Background (from the Commission website): In December 2014, the Commission announced the withdrawal of its legislative proposal for the review of waste legislation, to be replaced by a new, more ambitious, initiative for the promotion of the circular economy by the […] CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) · 16 Aug 2015 Global CEPI’s response to public consultation as part of the Fitness Check of the EU nature legislation (Birds and Habitats Directives) The purpose of the consultation was to gather opinions on current EU nature conservation legislation (the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive) and its implementation to date, as part of the ‘fitness check‘ that the European Commission is carrying out under its Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). Here’s a short summary of how CEPI […] CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) · 16 Aug 2015 Industry news Professor Louis Guillette Professor Louis Guillette, one of the first scientists to study hormone disruption in wildlife, sadly died on 6th August 2015. His death is a great loss to many, including those of us working to get endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) phased out. His work was pivotal in showing the effects that EDC chemicals could wreak in wildlife, particularly […] CHEM Trust · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news Highland householders ready to recycle plastics Householders in the Highlands will soon be able to recycle their plastic pots, tubs and trays under a new scheme being rolled out by the council. Starting from August 31, Highland council will introduce mixed plastics to the materials residents can already place in their blue bins. The plastics, which must be ‘clean, dry and … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Aug 2015 Council news Freedom Of Information - Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Fermanagh and Omagh Council · 14 Aug 2015 Council news Consultations - Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Fermanagh and Omagh Council · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news Summer recycling selfies flood in from Italy, Tenerife, San Diego and more! Entries continue to flood in for letsrecycle.com’s ‘Summer Recycling Selfie’ competition, sponsored by DHL Envirosolutions – so if you too want to be in with a chance of winning an iPad, be sure to keep them coming! Clearly many of you have been enjoying your well-earned summer breaks while also – perhaps more importantly – … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news The Week in Waste – August 14 2015 Take a look at the ‘Week in Waste’ video report. In this week’s report by letsrecycle.com, sponsored by Biffa, we aim to give you a snapshot of the news in the world of recycling and waste management. This week we take a look at the latest developments in the inquiry into the fatal accident in … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news Liverpool to take bin collections in-house Plans for a council-owned firm to carry out bin collections in Liverpool will go ahead, after GMB union members voted to support the newly-created company this week. Liverpool Waste Management and Related Services, which will be wholly owned by Liverpool city council, will perform waste collections and street cleansing services in the city from November … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news EMR to submit odour plan over unwashed cans Unwashed cans have caused a stink at a metal recycling facility in Newhaven, which has been ordered to submit an odour management plan to address the problem. The Environment Agency this week confirmed European Metal Recycling (EMR) is putting together an odour plan for its North Quay facility in the East Sussex port town following … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Aug 2015 Industry news Waste Managers Increase North East Investment Cleansing Service Group’s (CSG) oil and water treatment plant at Middlesbrough is to undergo a major upgrade in processing facilities to cater for the growing level of business the company is experiencing in the area. A total of £750,000 is scheduled to be spent on a new soluble oil treatment and oily sludge centrifuge, together […] CSG (Cleansing Service Group) · 13 Aug 2015 Council news Visiting Fermanagh and Omagh - Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Fermanagh and Omagh Council · 13 Aug 2015 Council news Accessibility Statement - Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Fermanagh and Omagh Council · 13 Aug 2015 Council news Careers - Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Fermanagh and Omagh Council · 13 Aug 2015 Industry news Wokingham’s faltering recycling rate blamed on street sweepings Wokingham borough council has claimed that its flattening recycling performance is in part due to a 2012 Environment Agency ruling which outlawed the use of street sweepings in compost. In addition, the council’s executive member for the environment, Angus Ross, said that the decline of newsprint in the UK was also “having a perverse effect … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Aug 2015 Industry news Glasgow accident inquiry: driver heard “wake up” THE DRIVER of a bin lorry that careered into and killed six people days before Christmas last year will not face any criminal charges by the Crown, the fatal accident inquiry being held in Glasgow has heard. But, a prosecution outside of Scotland is still a possibility, the inquiry has heard [For details of this … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Aug 2015 Industry news Glasgow accident inquiry: driver could be prosecuted out-with Scotland The driver of a bin lorry that careered into and and killed six people days before Christmas could still be prosecuted out-with Scotland, the fatal accident inquiry in Glasgow has heard. Dorothy Bain QC representing the family of Jacqueline Morton asked if Mr Clarke could be charged with offences south of the border. He said that it … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Aug 2015 Industry news Reclaimed wood stage at Firle Vintage Fair A beautiful day at last Sunday's Firle Vintage Fair, and a chance to see wood saved by Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project put to great use to make a stage! Community Wood Recycling · 13 Aug 2015