Recycling news: 2015
Fresh every day from industry press, GOV.UK and research feeds — plus the historical archive. Last updated 27 Jul 2026.
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Industry news
Veolia chief outlines circular economy hopes
Delays to the EU Commission’s circular economy package will allow ‘bolder and more comprehensive’ targets to take shape, the chief executive of global waste and services giant Veolia has told letsrecycle.com. Speaking in Paris this week, Antoine Frérot said he would like to see a focus on energy efficiency and commitment to secondary raw material … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
LWARB unveils Resource London
A new jointly-funded support programme for the captial’s waste authorities named Resource London, was unveiled today (February 12) at the London Conference in Holborn. It will be delivered in partnership by the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Resource London will provide a range of support to … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 12 Feb 2015
Policy & government
Appeal to the tax tribunal
Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax) against tax decisions: how to appeal, the hearing, if you lose your case.
GOV.UK · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
RBS loans Tamar £32 million for future projects
Organics recycling firm Tamar Energy has secured a £32 million loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland to refinance its five anaerobic digestion (AD) plants currently in operation across England. The seven-year non-recourse finance facility, described as the first of its kind for the AD industry, will also be used to help expand the firm’s … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
Shanks doubles capacity of Cumbernauld AD facility
Waste treatment firm Shanks is close to increasing the capacity of its Cumbernauld anaerobic digestion facility by double. The plant which is located between Glasgow and Falkirk is jointly owned by Shanks and its venture partner Paragon Efficiencies under the joint venture Energen Biogas. The £5 million expansion is expected to be completed in April … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
SITA to begin commissioning Rugby SRF facility
Waste and resources firm SITA UK is to begin commissioning its solid recovered fuel (SRF) production plant at Malpass Farm, Rugby, in the coming days. The £18 million plant, which has been under development since 2013, will produce SRF for burning by cement manufacturer CEMEX in its kiln close to the site, under a 250,000 … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
How would you like to gift? - Costa Gift Card
Costa Coffee media centre · 12 Feb 2015
Industry news
Planning inquiry found in favour of Norfolk EfW
Eric Pickles was advised to rule in favour of plans to build a now-aborted energy from waste plant in King’s Lynn, planning documents released today (February 11) have revealed. The revelation has led to accusations that a ‘political agenda’ saw the government’s ruling on the proposed plant delayed. The Planning Inspector’s report on Norfolk council … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 11 Feb 2015
Industry news
Hertfordshire clamps down on commercial waste at HWRCs
Hertfordshire council and contractor Amey have imposed a restriction on van drivers using Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the county to prevent trade from being dumped on sites. As of January the council has imposed a permitting scheme which requires drivers of vans or pickup trucks or drivers with trailers to sign up to … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 11 Feb 2015
Industry news
NE Lincs to reconsider charge for green waste
North East Lincolnshire council could become the latest local authority to adopt a charge to collect green waste from residents, in a bid to save £500,000 per year from its collection budget. Councillors will vote on introducing a charge from April 2015 at a cabinet meeting next Wednesday (February 18), after it had carried out … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 11 Feb 2015
Industry news
GDF Suez to buy energy from Allerton EfW plant
AmeyCespa has signed a power purchase agreement with energy firm GDF SUEZ for the output from its Allerton Waste Recovery Park energy-from-waste plant in North Yorkshire, it has been announced today (February 11). Under the agreement, GDF SUEZ Energy UK, sister company to waste management firm SITA UK, will buy all of the electricity generated … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 11 Feb 2015
Industry news
Pickles urges housing industry to tackle ‘bin blight’
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has reinforced his commitment to tackle the “scourge of bin blight” on streets, calling on the housing industry to improve house design to include more space for waste and recycling containers. Mr Pickles said yesterday (February 9) that too many streets were “still dominated by the ugly clutter of unsightly bins, … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 10 Feb 2015
Industry news
Vehicle and plant round-up
With news on: Yotta in-cab technology; Advetec waste digesters; Komptech’s Hurrifex separator; Vehicle Weighing Solutions, and; Petlon Polymers upgrades metal separation Yotta launches in-cab technology Leamington Spa-based software and technology firm Yotta has launched a new in-cab waste management system to help crews deliver refuse collection services. The Mayrise In-Cab uses a vehicle moun…
letsrecycle.com News · 10 Feb 2015
Industry news
EMR opens third metal recycling site in Sheffield
Metal recycling giant EMR has opened its third scrap metal recycling depot in Sheffield. The Halfway facility, situated at the former SITA site on Holbrook Industrial Estate in Halfway, buys all grades of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal including iron, steel, copper, brass, aluminium, lead, scrap cars, boilers and farm scrap. EMR already operates depots … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 10 Feb 2015
Industry news
Warm spring 2014 boosts England’s recycling rate
Councils in England recorded their best ever quarter for recycling between April to June 2014, figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) today (February 10) indicate. The quarterly ‘waste from households’ data, which covers all of the waste handled by local authorities, shows that England achieved a quarterly recycling rate … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 10 Feb 2015
Industry news
How to compost cooked food
This week I picked up a question about how to compost cooked food on Twitter I do love a bit of composting! You get rid of ‘rubbish’ you no longer need and end up with something valuable and life giving in the process! Yasmeen, who runs the Dry Goods Store in London – where…
Zero Waste Week · 10 Feb 2015
Industry news
Gypsum recyclers welcome low risk statement
Gypsum recyclers have welcomed the publication of a low risk position statement by the Environment Agency allowing recycled gypsum to be spread on agricultural land as a substitute fertiliser. But, they have said the statement only allows for a limited amount of recycled gypsum to be spread to land and are now seeking End of Waste … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 9 Feb 2015
Industry news
Norfolk procures interim waste treatment contract
Norfolk county council is putting out to tender a four-year interim waste treatment and disposal contract, following the collapse of its plans to build an energy from waste plant at King’s Lynn. And, the council is also seeking bids for a four-year framework agreement for waste transfer station services in the county, which could be … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 9 Feb 2015
Industry news
Councils asked to reveal commercial waste details
Councils across the UK have been asked to disclose details of their commercial waste collection arrangements, in an ongoing dispute over whether they should be exempt from paying VAT. Scott Hawthorne, director of North East-based recycling firm Max Recycle, submitted a freedom of information (FOI) request to local authorities throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 9 Feb 2015
Industry news
Associations battle over role of export markets
The Resource Association has criticised a report by Defra on the benefits of the resource management sector, claiming that it understates the growth potential for reprocessing material in the UK. In contrast, the Recycling Association has welcomed the government study saying “it recognises what a vital, burgeoning and truly global industry we [the recycling sector] … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 9 Feb 2015
Industry news
POWERDAY AND KELP INITIATIVE FOR YOUNG UNEMPLOYED REACHES CENTURY MILESTONE
Kotuku and Powerday’s highly successful Kotuku Environment Labour Project (KELP) reached a milestone this week after the 100th young unemployed Londoner started their two week training course with a...
Powerday · 9 Feb 2015
Industry news
Need for new economic realism
Following publication of Defra’s resource management report, Ian McAulay, chief executive of Viridor, writes about the need for some caution. As one of the leading recycling, renewable energy and waste management companies, Viridor has welcomed the publication of DEFRA’s report: ‘Resource Management: A catalyst for growth and productivity ’(published on February 2015). With the general election…
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
Agency to discuss TEEP at Commercial Waste Conference
Businesses will have the opportunity to quiz the Environment Agency on new requirements to present waste separately for collection at the Commercial Waste Conference, hosted by letsrecycle.com, in London this month (February 26). Ben Glatt, environment and business advisor for the Agency is set to give a presentation on TEEP and separate collections at the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
Brocklesby wins Wetherspoon oil recycling contact
Pub chain J D Wetherspoon has awarded a contract to East Yorkshire-based Brocklesby Ltd to recycle used cooking oil from its 934 UK establishments After delivering ambient, fresh and frozen produce to its pubs, Wetherspoon’s vehicles will take back used cooking oil to its Daventry logistics centre for recycling. Under the deal, Brocklesby will then … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
Essex IT recycler acquired for £56m by US electronics giant
Computer reuse and recycling firm RDC has been acquired by the US electronics giant Arrow, in a deal worth around £56 million. Based in Colorado, Arrow distributes IT and data storage equipment to firms across the globe. The firm claims that the purchase of RDC will allow it to address the ‘growing requirements’ of its … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
West Wales councils sign £48 million RDF deal
Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire county councils have agreed a joint deal worth £48 million to process 30,000 tonnes per year of residual waste into refuse derived fuel (RDF) for export to Sweden. The 15-year contract with Welshpool-based Potters Waste Management commences on March 1 2015 with an option to break at the end of year 10. … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
Lancashire to challenge Defra over loss of waste grant
Lancashire county council is mounting a legal challenge over the government’s decision to terminate its £6 million per year waste infrastructure grant. The North West authority has announced it will submit a judicial review following the Defra decision, which the council executive is ‘confident’ it can win. Defra originally pledged to provide investment through its … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2015
Industry news
New Earth wins £2m Kent food waste contract
New Earth Solutions has been awarded a five-year contract to treat around 17,000 tonnes of food waste each year on behalf of West and Mid Kent local authorities. The deal – which was tendered by Kent county council – will see New Earth process food waste collected from Maidstone, Ashford, and Gravesham and Swale at … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 5 Feb 2015
Industry news
Glasgow crash driver ‘unconscious’ at wheel
The driver of a waste collection vehicle that crashed in Glasgow in December 2014, killing six, has revealed to the Scottish Daily Record that he has no recollection of the crash as he was unconscious when the vehicle veered out of control. The news comes less than a week after Police Scotland submitted a report … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 5 Feb 2015
Industry news
More Derby streets lose recycling collections
A further 650 properties on 11 streets in Derby will have their fortnightly recycling collections removed and replaced by weekly residual waste collections, under plans approved by the city council yesterday (February 4). A report to the council’s neighbourhoods and streetpride cabinet member meeting recommended that weekly waste collections be introduced on a “small number … Read More The post…
letsrecycle.com News · 5 Feb 2015
Industry news
Timmermans appeals for time on circular economy plans
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans has dismissed criticism of the decision to withdraw the circular economy policy package, and has reiterated his commitment to drawing up a new set of proposals in 2015. During questioning by a coalition of Green MEPs at a press conference yesterday (February 4), Mr Timmermans said that the decision … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 5 Feb 2015
Industry news
Waste sector creates £6.8bn for UK, Defra claims
The UK waste sector generates an estimated £6.8 billion in gross value and supported 103,000 jobs in 2013, according to a Defra study published today (February 5). And, efficiencies are increasing with council waste collection costs per household down 5.7%. But, the department found that while the sector was ahead of the growth curve prior … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 5 Feb 2015
Industry news
Viridor wins 12-month Lewisham recycling contract
Viridor has won a 12-month contract to process and sell dry recyclables on behalf of the London borough of Lewisham. The arrangement, which began in December 2014, sees Viridor sort and process around 20,000 tonnes of materials including paper, card, tins, foil, glass, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays per year at its materials recycling … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 4 Feb 2015
Industry news
York looking to extend bin coverage to terraced homes
City of York council is to formally approve plans to roll out wheeled bins to around 6,000 households currently using residual waste sacks. Councillors will make a final decision on the plan to invest £106,000 in new containers for homes situated in back lanes and terraced areas at a meeting next Tuesday (February 10). Around … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 4 Feb 2015
Industry news
Working with Community Wood Recycling saves Wilmott Dixon money
Willmott Dixon are great supporters of Community Wood Recycling, with more than 20 sites using our waste wood collection service at the moment.
Community Wood Recycling · 4 Feb 2015
Industry news
Obituary: Ernie Sharp
Tributes have been paid to waste industry veteran and CIWM fellow Ernie Sharp, who died this week aged 93. Mr Sharp will be known to many in the waste industry having worked for Greater London council’s waste disposal unit, from which he retired in 1983, having begun his career as a bin man for the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 4 Feb 2015
Industry news
WRAP launches online recycling locator
An online tool designed to help householders identify materials accepted as part of their local recycling scheme has been launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) today. The Recycling Locator, displayed on the Recycle Now website, allows residents to find out information about what can be accepted in their local kerbside collections and … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 4 Feb 2015
Council news
Local Authority Designated Officer - Council of the ISLES OF SCILLY
Isles of Scilly Council · 4 Feb 2015
Industry news
Maximising benefits of PRN system on ACP agenda
The government’s new Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) is to look at how the PRN system can help councils to meet challenging 2020 recycling targets as part of a new programme of work agreed at its inaugural meeting last week. The Committee is made up of representatives from different sectors affected by the Packaging Waste … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 3 Feb 2015
Industry news
Finding the right funding options
Funding options come in all shapes and sizes, writes Richard Taylor, investment director at the Business Growth Fund (BGF). The key is finding the right one for your business. The waste management and recycling sector has been on a long-term upward trajectory over the past 20 years, despite the inevitable peaks and troughs of market … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 3 Feb 2015