Recycling news: 2016

Industry news Laws regulating chemicals in food packaging are not good enough, European Parliament says The European Parliament has today overwhelmingly backed a report calling for substantial improvements in the laws covering the chemicals that are used in food packaging and processes, and which can leach into the food we eat. They also called for a ban on the use of the hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol A in all food contact […] CHEM Trust · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news H&M backs closed loop approach for clothing production The retail sector needs to work across all aspects of the production process to achieve closed loop clothing, retailer H&M’s sustainability manager, Catarina Midby, has emphasised. Addressing the Textiles Recycling Conference in London yesterday (5 October), Ms Midby spoke of the importance of working across the spectrum to achieve the best recycling rates while being ‘cost … Read More The post… letsrecycle.com News · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news Waste confusion remains in textiles recycling, says BIR director Confusion around whether used clothes are waste or not remains a problem for the textiles recycling sector, the audience at the Textiles Recycling Conference heard yesterday (5 October). Ross Bartley, trade & environment director at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), voiced his dismay over the response by the European Commission to a European Parliament … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news Carpet and mattress recycling poses ‘significant’ challenge A significant amount of used carpets and mattresses in the UK are still ending up in landfill, with few local authorities willing to segregate and recycle the material. This was the message from panellists at the third session of the Textile Recycling Conference 2016 in London yesterday (5 October) – who spoke about the difficulties … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news Veolia reports ‘huge’ fall in carrier bags at MRFs Waste management firm Veolia says it has seen a “huge” reduction in the number of carrier bags coming through its materials recycling facilities. Commenting on the impact of the charge, which came into force on October 5 2015, Richard Kirkman, the company’s technical director for the UK and Ireland, said: ” In just 365 days … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news Derbyshire considers HWRC restriction Derbyshire council is among the latest in a string of local authorities to propose a clamp-down on the use of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) by residents from other counties, in plans out for consultation. The local authority put forward proposals to cut its annual £37 million waste management budget by £4 million by April … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 6 Oct 2016 Industry news Carlisle gasification plant given planning approval Plans for a 225,000 tonnes-per-year capacity gasification energy from waste plant in Carlisle have been approved today (5 April) by Cumbria county council. The estimated £80 million plant is being developed by a consortium of companies, Fortum Carlisle Limited – a UK subsidiary of the Finnish energy supplier Fortum – Kingmoor Park Properties and sustainable … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 5 Oct 2016 Industry news London disposal authority calls for food waste ban A ban on food waste from businesses being sent to landfill would stimulate the anaerobic digestion market, the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has advised a government select committee. And, the Authority has questioned the effectiveness of voluntary schemes such as the Courtauld Commitment – calling for a ‘thorough assessment’ to investigate where mandatory measures … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 5 Oct 2016 Industry news B&M Waste warns against rough sleeping in bins A campaign aimed at ensuring people do not seek shelter in waste containers has been relaunched by B&M Waste Services ahead of the busy Christmas period. With winter fast approaching, the Wirral-based recycling business has revisited its ‘Refuse Not Refuge’ initiative for a third consecutive year in a bid to boost safety on the streets … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 5 Oct 2016 Industry news Norton turnover hit by falling steel values Annual turnover at one of the UK’s larger metal recycling businesses, Liverpool-based S Norton & Co tumbled in 2015 to £139 million compared to £228 million a year earlier. The figures were contained in the company’s annual results for the year ended December 31 2015 which were published this week. Commenting on the figures, the … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 5 Oct 2016 Industry news MRF expert reacts to concerns of paper mills Concerns raised by the UK’s Confederation of Paper Industries over the quality of cardboard arising from materials recycling facilities have prompted a response from a MRF expert, John Glover, managing director of London-based waste and recycling company Bywaters. Mr Glover has noted that UK mills could be finding the marketplace affected by the lower value … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 4 Oct 2016 Industry news Coffey queries impact of landfill tax on recycling Defra minister Thérèse Coffey has questioned the continuing level of impact that the landfill tax has as a driver for increasing recycling rates and whether it is a “sufficient penalty to make a change”. Speaking at afringe session at the Conservative Party conference organised by waste and resources firm Suez and the think tank Policy … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 4 Oct 2016 Industry news Maintenance underway after Novelis incidents The UK’s major buyer of used aluminium cans, Novelis Recycling, has temporarily stopped buying used beverage cans after two incidents at its Warrington smelting plant. In late August an aluminium ingot was dropped at the plant causing some damage. Work is thought to have stopped for several days although used cans were still brought in … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 4 Oct 2016 Industry news Police launch inquiries into Aberdeen recycling death An investigation has been launched following the death of a man at EIS Waste Services’ materials recycling facility near Aberdeen yesterday (3 October). Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are making inquiries into the ‘sudden’ incident, which happened at the Nigg-based site at around 2.30pm. The man, who has not been named, … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 4 Oct 2016 Industry news Somerset cracks down on ‘out-of-county’ HWRC users Somerset council has moved to prevent users from outside of the county from using any of its 16 household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). Under changes which came into effect yesterday Somerset HWRCs will be enforcing a stricter permitting requirement, which will see drivers of vans or trailers issued with permits to prevent access to the … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 4 Oct 2016 Industry news Fire burns for third day at Countrystyle’s Ridham Docks site A fire that broke out on Saturday morning (1 October) at Countrystyle’s waste wood site at Ridham Docks remains alight, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed. The fire started at 09:04 on Saturday and involved a “large amount of wood chippings,” in a pile approximately 100 by 75 metres, according to the Kent … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Averies Recycling directors plead guilty to waste offences Two former directors of Wiltshire waste company Averies Recycling, Lee and David Averies, have pleaded guilty to breaching environmental regulations. Last week (30 September) at Swindon Crown Court, the brothers pleaded guilty to breaching environmental regulations at three waste sites, Swindon Skips Ltd (SSL) at Brindley Close and Cheney Manor, and Averies Recycling Swindon Ltd … Read More The… letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Mills attack waste sector over paper contamination Paper mills warned today (3 October) that they are becoming impatient about having to “shoulder the cost burden of contamination” in the face of rising amounts of contamination at MRFs. In a strongly worded statement, the Confederation of Paper Industries, which represents UK mills including Saica, DS Smith and Smurfit Kappa, hit out at waste … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news News in Brief (3/10/2016) With news on: Five years of Wales carrier bag charge; EU beverage carton recycling rates grow; Gloucestershire joins Duty of Care drive; Recycling earns £6,000 for Torbay charities, and; Pictorial history of Biffa is published Recycling residents earn £6,000 for Torbay charities Five local charity and community projects have each received a share of £6,000 thanks … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Biogen opens seventh AD facility at Merevale Food waste processor Biogen has added to its network of anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities across the UK, with the opening of its 45,000 tonnes-per-year capacity Merevale plant near Atherstone in Warwickshire. The facility – Biogen’s seventh – was opened by Lord Henry Plumb, former President of both the European Parliament and the National Farmers’ Union. … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news BPI director dismisses talk of plastics recycling ‘crisis’ A senior plastics recycling industry executive has downplayed suggestions that reprocessors are under pressure due to the impact of falling oil prices on the price of virgin polymers. Mike Baxter, external affairs director at plastic film recycler and manufacturer BPI Recycling Products, was responding to suggestions that UK plastics recyclers are ‘in crisis’ due to … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Tesco installs food waste tipping system Waste management machinery designer and manufacturer Whitham Mills has completed the design, installation and commissioning of a bespoke roll cage tipping system for food waste on behalf of Tesco. The system replaces over 700 compactors at Tesco stores and is designed to reduce the cost of compactor lifts, cleaning, maintenance and replacement. This was installed … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Plymouth to consider plans to ‘modernise’ waste collections Plans to ‘modernise’ waste collections in Plymouth will be discussed at the council’s Place and Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday (5 October). Among the proposals is a plan to introduce alternate weekly collections of residual waste and recyclables, which the council claims could increase recycling rates by up to 9%. According to a report to be … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 3 Oct 2016 Industry news Countrystyle Recycling Appointed as sole Waste Management Provider for Medway Norse Countrystyle are delighted to announce that Medway Norse have appointed us as their sole waste management provider for their non-hazardous […] Countrystyle Recycling · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news VAT ruling sets hare running The court ruling in favour of local authorities regarding VAT exemption for commercial waste services has set a hare running. This debate has been going on for more than five years but is becoming sharper as there is a growing awareness of the different approach between councils and contractors. (see letsrecycle.com story) Previously it was … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news O’Brien secures Middlesbrough MRF contract O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions has been awarded a three-year contract to process mixed recyclables on behalf of Middlesbrough council. The contract will see O’Brien process commingled materials at its materials recycling facility (MRF) in Hartlepool. The arrangement, which was initially tendered for five years is valued at £1.6 million. The contract had been due to … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news The Week in Waste – 30 September 2016 Take a look at the ‘Week in Waste’ video report. In this week’s report by letsrecycle.com, Tom Goulding reports on a string of major financial deals in the waste and recycling sector. The video report comes as letsrecycle.com continues to develop its coverage of recycling news, to serve the growing demands of our audience of … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news Anglesey responds to nappy collection outcry Anglesey council’s new waste collection scheme hit national headlines this week following news that its nappy collection required parents to provide a birth certificate to prove children were under the age of three. The nappy collection scheme is being introduced alongside changes to the waste collection service from October 2016. The Welsh local authority has … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news M&S assesses single polymer in push for recycling Retail giant Marks & Spencer is assessing whether it could reduce plastic packaging down to one type of polymer which would help recycling, the company revealed yesterday (29 September). Senior packaging technologist and innovation lead at Marks & Spencer, Kevin Vyse told delegates at the annual Recoup conference in Peterborough that the retailer is exploring … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 30 Sept 2016 Industry news DOCUMENTARY SHOWS TRUE BENEFITS OF POWERDAY’S LONDON ABA SUPPORT A documentary released last week shows the true benefits of Powerday’s support of London Amateur Boxing Assocation. The short film 'Between the ropes' shows how boxers at Attleborough ABA in South ... Powerday · 29 Sept 2016 Industry news RiverRidge Recycling receives £10m equity investment Waste management company RiverRidge Recycling has secured a major equity investment from the Business Growth Fund (BGF), which provides growth capital to SMEs. RiverRidge Recycling describes itself as “the largest independent waste management operator in Northern Ireland”, treating over 400,000 tonnes of waste each year on behalf of local authorities, commercial businesses and individual househ… letsrecycle.com News · 29 Sept 2016 Industry news Agrivert completes two AD plants in ‘record’ time Organic waste business Agrivert has announced the completion of two anaerobic digestion facilities, securing their tariffs for the next 20 years. The two new plants, in South Wales and North London, bring the number of Agrivert’s food waste facilities to a total of five. The two plants were built in ‘record time’ of nine months … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 29 Sept 2016 Industry news Shanks and VGG merger terms agreed The proposed merger by Shanks Group plc with Dutch and Belgian waste business the Van Gansewinkel Group (VGG) has moved closer after terms were agreed between the two parties. Completion is expected in December 2016. In a financial announcement today (29 September) Shanks said: “Merger terms agreed between Shanks and VGG to form a leading … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 29 Sept 2016 Industry news Biffa eyes North West growth with Blakeley’s acquisition Waste management firm Biffa has today (29 September) agreed conditional terms for acquiring the waste collection and processing business of Wigan-based Blakeley’s Recycling Ltd. The acquisition, which is planned to complete on 1 November 2016, is expected to add over £7 million to Biffa’s annual revenues. Blakeley’s Recycling Ltd carries out commercial waste collections services … Read More The… letsrecycle.com News · 29 Sept 2016 Industry news China’s Firion set to acquire Urbaser A Chinese-owned group has agreed to buy the Spanish-owned Urbaser environmental services business which would see it take on a range of municipal services across the UK. Urbaser Ltd contracts include the Gloucestershire energy from waste project run with Balfour Beatty, waste treatment services for Essex and Southend-on-Sea councils, recycling collections for Bournemouth and waste services … Re… letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016 Industry news Three arrested in West Midlands recycling site ‘slavery’ raids Three men were arrested yesterday (27 September) for alleged slavery offences, after it was claimed that a group of Polish nationals were paid just £1 an hour for work at recycling sites in Sandwell. The arrests by West Midlands Police followed raids at CAP Recycling in Elwell Street, West Bromwich, and Black Country Recycling, Union … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016 Industry news The Chinese conundrum There seems to be a lurking suspicion out there that most of the UK’s recycling gets sent to China. People complain that this is a farcical state of affairs which negates the value of recycling. Some seem to think that, once recycling gets to China, it’s more likely to be buried or burned than recycled. … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016 Industry news Local authority news round-up (28/09/2016) With news on: Charging at West Sussex HWRCs; Bexley green points system; King’s Lynn consultation, and; NW Leicestershire recycling roadshows. West Sussex to introduce charging at HWRCs Changes are set to come into force to West Sussex’s 11 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) from Saturday (1 October). The changes will affect opening times, and will … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016 Industry news Wales launches bag purchasing framework The National Procurement Services for Wales has published details of companies selected for inclusion on a ‘waste disposal bags framework’ for use by Welsh public sector organisations. The category is the first specifically related to recycling although the NPS has drawn up a suppliers list in the past for wood pellets for biomass boilers. Available … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016 Industry news SUTCO UK outlines Landor Street SRF process In this contributed news article, SUTCO UK outline the development behind and for the Suez SRF production facility at Landor Street, Birmingham as part of a 25-year contract to supply Cemex with an SRF known as ‘climafuel`. Specialist plant builder Sutco UK was chosen after a rigorous selection process to provide a plant that process 24 tonnes … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 28 Sept 2016