Recycling news: 2015

Industry news Swansea’s black bag limit sees residual waste fall The amount of residual waste collected for disposal from households in Swansea has fallen by over 25% in the 12 months since city council introduced a limit on the number of waste bags available to householders, it has been claimed. Since early April 2014, Swansea residents have been restricted to putting out a maximum of … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 22 Apr 2015 Industry news EU Food Authority responds to letter on misleading communication on Bisphenol A risks, claims ‘simplification’ for ‘accessibility’ On Friday 17th April we finally got a response to our letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on why their press release & public briefing on 21st January had stated that there was ‘no health concern’ from the hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), when their expert panel had actually stated that there was a ‘low […] CHEM Trust · 22 Apr 2015 Industry news Shanks’ Westcott AD plant achieves PAS 110 status Waste management giant Shanks has announced that it has achieved PAS 110 certification at its Westcott Park anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Buckinghamshire. The PAS 110 specification, which was originally published in February 2010, aims to provide assurances to companies using digestate as a biofertiliser or soil improver that the product is of a consistent … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 22 Apr 2015 Industry news Plastics Packaging Seminar – Packaging in Context We presented at the BPF Plastics Packaging Seminar in April 2015: see our presentation deck below: INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) · 22 Apr 2015 Global The Circular Economy and REACH – an essential partnership The interaction between product, waste and chemicals legislation is a key aspect of the circular economy. It is an important part of a successful transition to sound material loops, and to our protection from hazardous substances. It’s important to note that once something becomes waste it is exempted from REACH chemicals law[1]. Instead, EU waste […] Zero Waste Europe · 21 Apr 2015 Industry news Surrey councils seek joint £100m collection contract Four local authorities in Surrey have decided to procure a joint waste collection and street cleansing contract in a deal valued at over £100 million, letsrecycle.com can reveal. Elmbridge borough council, Mole Valley district council, Surrey Heath borough council and Woking borough council are teaming up to tender for a contract for an initial term … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 21 Apr 2015 Industry news News in brief (21/04/15) With news on: Biffa WEEE collections; Scottish bag levy progress; CK Melrose investment, and; Grundon & Carbon8 tanker. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Biffa collects 400 tonnes of household WEEE Municipal services firm Biffa has collected over 400 tonnes of small waste electrical and electronic items (WEEE) from households since the launch… letsrecycle.com News · 21 Apr 2015 Industry news Green jackets won by DHL at 2015 Masters of Waste DHL have been crowned champions after winning the team competition in the 2015 Masters of Waste golf tournament held this year at Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire. Players from across the waste sector came together last week (April 17) for the competition which saw DHL Envirosolutions, runners-up twice before, take the title from 2014 winners Powerday, with a strong performance from the … Read More … letsrecycle.com News · 21 Apr 2015 Industry news The EU claims that TTIP won’t reduce EU food safety standards – but is this true? The EU commission has claimed that there will be no lowering of food safety standards in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that is currently being negotiated with the United States. However, an examination of the EU’s negotiating position shows that they are already offering changes which could lead to increased amounts of pesticide residues […] CHEM Trust · 20 Apr 2015 Industry news Shanks suspends Cumbria MBT operations Waste and recycling firm Shanks has been forced for a second time to suspend operations at its Barrow-in-Furness mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant in Cumbria – this time in order to improve odour management. The Environment Agency, which served a notice to Shanks on Friday (April 17), is investigating the Sowerby Woods site over “non-compliance” … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Apr 2015 Council news Housing Benefit / Universal Credit - Castle Point Borough Council Castle Point Council · 20 Apr 2015 Industry news Labour commits to resource security review The Labour Party today (April 20) said it would undertake a review of resource security if elected in order to “unblock the economic opportunities from using our resources more efficiently”. Highlighting “volatile” raw materials prices and the need to support domestic recycling and remanufacturing, Labour said the review would be led by the Treasury to … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Apr 2015 Industry news WEEE arisings increasing globally, UN report finds The amount of WEEE being generated across the globe reached around 41.8 million tonnes in 2014, and is due to reach close to 50 million tonnes before the end of the decade, research published by the UN suggests. These are among the findings contained in the annual ‘Global E-Waste Monitor’ report published by the United … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Apr 2015 Industry news Metal recycling firm fined after worker severs hands A Southampton-based recycling firm has been ordered to pay £38,000 after a worker had both hands sheared off in an accident involving an industrial baler. Metal Processing Ltd was prosecuted at West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court last week (April 16) following the incident at its Northam site in January 2014, as well as a separate incident … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 20 Apr 2015 Industry news Zero Waste alternatives to cling film Fiona contacted me about alternatives to cling film recently. She was so fed up with using cling film that she decided to do something about it! She wrote “I now use tupperware boxes! I make packed lunches every day and often store leftovers in the fridge so boxes are great for this- they just get… Zero Waste Week · 19 Apr 2015 Industry news Insuring the waste sector: the long term picture David Bearman, chief executive of Wasteinsure and its parent company Direct Insurance Group Plc analyses the insurance market for waste site operators, following the announcement of its link up with Hiscox Insurance this month. For too long insurance in the waste sector has received negative press, largely brought about by a number of high profile, … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Apr 2015 Industry news Environment ‘in margins of election debate’ WWF claims A leading environmental organisation has called on politicians to put the environment at the heart of their general election campaigns, claiming that there has been ‘virtually no debate’ on the topic in the campaign so far. In a statement today the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) has claimed that environmental issues still only remain on the … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Apr 2015 Industry news Rivenhall plant allowed to source waste outside of Essex A proposed merchant energy recovery centre in Essex with the capacity to treat more than a million tonnes of materials per year has been granted permission to source solid recovered fuel as well as materials for recycling from outside of the county. Gent Fairhead & Co’s planned Integrated Waste Management Facility at Rivenhall Airfield near … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Apr 2015 Industry news Zero Waste Awards point to resource efficiency The recognition provided by the letsrecycle.com Zero Waste Awards scheme is helping to take UK industry forward to a more resource efficient era, a top environmental policy specialist declared last week. The awards are sponsored by SaicaNatur and WasteCare with PR support from Ceris Burns International. Speaking at the annual Zero Waste Awards ceremony in … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Apr 2015 Industry news St Albans seeks a Warehouse Supervisor/Driver St Albans Wood Recycling is a fast growing, award winning social enterprise that is looking to recruit a Warehouse Supervisor/Driver. Based in St Albans Hertfordshire, we currently employ six full time staff and due to the growth in our three main business areas, collecting waste wood, selling reclaimed wood and making furniture we are recruiting [...] Community Wood Recycling · 16 Apr 2015 Industry news Tower Hamlets recycling rewards pilot launched A pilot project to reward households in Stockholm House, Tower Hamlets for composting their food waste was launched yesterday (April 15) at St Pauls Primary School – one of four community projects and schools set to benefit from donations through the scheme. Councillors and members of the local community attended a launch event at St … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 16 Apr 2015 Industry news Charity news round-up (16/04/15) With news on: Green cyclists’ 500 km challenge; Bryson’s ‘£1 a tonne’ campaign; waste sector takes on London marathon, and; MRWA backs homelessness campaign ______________________________________________________________________________________ Green Cycling Club to take on 500 km challenge A group of green professionals from London is taking on an ambitious 500 km cycling challenge in a bid to … letsrecycle.com News · 16 Apr 2015 Industry news SOUTH LANARKSHIRE PUPILS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE EVERY CAN COUNT A new drinks can recycling initiative in South Lanarkshire is hoping to inspire 18,000 students and staff to make their drinks cans count. New can crushers have been installed at all 17 of the education authority’s secondary schools as part of a campaign developed by Every Can Counts, with funding from Zero Waste Scotland. The […] Alupro · 16 Apr 2015 Industry news Wrexham to overhaul recycling collection fleet Wrexham county borough council in North Wales has approved plans to invest in a fleet of new multi-stream ‘resource recovery vehicles’ (RRVs) as it seeks to move towards the Welsh Government’s 70% by 2025 recycling target. The council, which achieved a 54.7% recycling rate in 2013/14 is hoping that changes to its collection system, which … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 16 Apr 2015 Industry news AmeyCespa makes progress on Milton Keynes waste facility AmeyCespa’s waste recovery facility in Milton Keynes designed to handle up to 80,000 tonnes of residual waste per year is beginning to take shape, with the installation of thermal treatment equipment this month. The facility, dubbed the Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park, will treat municipal refuse from households across the town – as well as … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 16 Apr 2015 Council news Housing - Lambeth Council Lambeth Council · 15 Apr 2015 Council news Events - Lambeth Council Lambeth Council · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news Sliding metal prices impacted UK green economy in 2010-12 A significant decline in scrap metal prices led to a drop in the value of waste and recycling to the UK environmental goods and services sector between 2010 and 2012, the Office for National Statistics has reported. The figures are part of a statistical bulletin by the ONS looking at green economy activities undertaken in … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news UKIP targets weekly collections and council budgets UKIP has put weekly council waste collections firmly in its sights for the May 7 general election, with the policy appearing in its manifesto published today (April 15). The party has previously touted the policy at a local level, and has now been taken forward as a national policy alongside limiting the number of ‘highly-paid’ … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news Lib Dems would consult on waste ‘Incineration Tax’ The Liberal Democrats would consider introducing an Incineration Tax on waste if elected to office in May, according to the Party’s general election manifesto published today (April 15). The manifesto reaffirmed the Lib Dems’ ‘Five Green Laws’ package, which includes passing a Resource Efficiency and Zero Waste Act to ‘build a thriving reuse and recycling … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news Labour’s Eagle slams Coalition’s recycling ‘vacuum’ Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Maria Eagle has criticised the Coalition Government’s record on recycling in England since 2010, claiming that it has created a ‘policy vacuum’ in the sector. Speaking at a Labour Party meeting in the north London constituency of Hornsey & Wood Green last night (April 14) the MP for Garston and Halewood … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news Worcestershire to reconsider joint waste service Proposals to create a joint waste authority across Worcestershire and Herefordshire could be resurrected despite opposition from some district councils. Worcestershire county council will this week (April 16) consider conducting an audit into a joint waste collection service, which would help reduce the £57 million cost of dealing with municipal waste across both counties each … Read More The p… letsrecycle.com News · 15 Apr 2015 Industry news Resource policy: joining the dots Suez environnement’s head of external affairs Dr Gev Eduljee examines the possible scope and impact of an Office for Resource Management in government. Calls for enhancing coordination between government departments to tackle resource management and resource security have been gathering momentum. Following warm words but an otherwise noncommittal reception to the Materials Security Working Grou… letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Conservatives pledge ‘cost effective’ carbon cuts The Conservative Party has lauded its achievements as part of ‘the greenest government ever’ in its 2015 election manifesto, published today (April 14), and has pledged to cut carbon emissions in the most ‘cost effective’ way. However, the 83-page manifesto document, which was officially launched by Prime Minister David Cameron in Swindon, offers no indication … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Green Party promises £4bn waste and recycling boost The Green Party would boost spending on recycling and waste disposal by £4 billion a year to reduce dependence on incineration and landfill if elected to office in May, leader Natalie Bennett confirmed today (April 14). And, the Party also reiterated its pledge to introduce a 70% domestic recycling target by 2020 at the unveiling … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Finalists unveiled for 2015 Awards for Excellence A shortlist covering individuals, local authorities, the community sector and businesses has been announced for the 2015 letsrecycle.com Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management. The winners will be announced at a celebratory luncheon and Awards Ceremony on May 14 at the Landmark Hotel, London. Judging took place last week with a higher number … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Cambridgeshire composting firm hit by fire A “large quantity” of organic waste is still burning at an open-windrow composting site in Cambridgeshire where a fire affecting between 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes of material broke out on Sunday afternoon (April 12). Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service was first called at around 1.30pm to AWO Recycling Ltd’s site off Biggin Lane in Ramsey … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Vehicle news round-up (14/04/15) With news on a cyclist-friendly refuse collection vehicle being piloted in Cambridgeshire; Teignbridge renewing its fleet maintenance contract; and, Countrystyle awarding a tyre contract to Vacu-Lug Amey pilots cyclist-friendly vehicle A new refuse collection vehicle featuring ‘state-of-the-art’ safety features is being piloted by Amey on its Cambridgeshire trade waste collection routes. The ve… letsrecycle.com News · 14 Apr 2015 Council news Sign In - revben.oltps.sthelens.gov.uk St. Helens Council · 14 Apr 2015 Industry news Exports ‘not to blame’ for tough plastics market Secondary commodities sector trade body The Recycling Association has reacted strongly to suggestions that exports of plastic scrap and the PRN system are to blame for tough trading conditions currently affecting UK plastics recyclers. The comments came in response to a statement from the British Plastics Federation (BPF) Recycling Group, which claimed that the plight … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Apr 2015