Recycling news: 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 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 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 Industry news Inspector finds ‘deficiencies’ in West London Waste Plan A government-appointed planning inspector has recommended a number of changes to the West London Waste Plan ahead of its expected adoption this summer. The Plan sets out the long-term waste management planning strategy for the six West London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames. Covering the 17 year period until … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Apr 2015 Industry news Labour pledges to create one million green jobs The Labour Party has said it will create one million additional green jobs and introduce “ambitious” domestic carbon reduction targets in its General Election manifesto, which was launched in Manchester today (April 13). The manifesto also includes pledges to introduce a timetable for the Green Investment Bank (GIB) to be given additional powers to borrow … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Apr 2015 Industry news February 2015 is biggest ever month for RDF export A greater tonnage of waste derived fuels were exported from England and Wales in February 2015 than in any other month previously, data published by the Environment Agency indicates. The data, which was made available on the Environment Agency’s website this month, shows that a total of 240,860 tonnes of RDF was exported to the … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 13 Apr 2015 Industry news Viridor announces landfill site closures Viridor has stopped taking loads of non-hazardous waste at its Ardley landfill site in Oxfordshire, after 35 years in operation. Non-hazardous waste will now be taken into Viridor’s adjacent state-of-the-art Energy Recovery Facility (ERF). The £205 million facility has capacity to treat 300,000 tonnes of waste per year, sufficient to treat all of Oxfordshire’s residual … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 10 Apr 2015 Industry news Weymouth & Portland council slams Dorset action plan Councillors at Weymouth & Portland borough council have rejected a plan to address the Dorset Waste Partnership’s £2.8 million overspend and may consider leaving the Partnership altogether, it has been revealed. A plan was drawn up by the Partnership’s joint committee last month – outlining 37 steps to address problems encountered during the rollout of … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 10 Apr 2015 Industry news EU rules on UK Aggregates Levy The European Commission has ruled that all but one of the exemptions, exclusions and tax reliefs from the Aggregates Levy introduced by the UK government in 2002 are free of state aid. The aggregates levy is intended to encourage the use of recycled aggregate and other alternatives to freshly extracted aggregate, as well as to … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 10 Apr 2015 Industry news Recycling Lives hit by scrap fire at Preston site Lancashire-based WEEE and metal recycling firm Recycling Lives has suffered a major fire overnight at its scrap metal site at Longridge Road, Preston. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the site before 21:40 yesterday evening, where firefighters found that a pile of cars, approximately 30 metres by 20 metres was well alight. According … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 10 Apr 2015 Industry news POWERDAY SECURES UK RDF OUTLET WITH FERRYBRIDGE MULTIFUEL ENERGY LIMITED Powerday is delighted to announce a contract with Ferrybridge Multifuel Energy Limited (FMFEL) to supply refuse derived fuel (RDF) to their new power station in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire. The plant... Powerday · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news REACH helps the circular economy clean up, facilitating sustainable recycling On 24th March I took part in an event in Brussels, organised by EurActiv, discussing the relationship between the REACH chemicals regulations and the Circular Economy, in particular the interaction between REACH & recycling. The other panelists included representatives of the European Commission (both DG Environment and DG Growth), the plastic pipe industry and an […] CHEM Trust · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news ACP sets out EU circular economy proposals The UK government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) has submitted a series of proposals to the European Commission to take into account when drawing up its revised Circular Economy package this year. Proposed new targets for the recycling of packaging were put forward last summer, amongst a series of proposals drawn up by the former … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news Final clearance of Waste4fuel site to start this summer Work to finally clear the abandoned Waste4Fuel site in Orpington will begin this summer after a plan of action was agreed by the Environment Agency and Bromley borough council “in light of the potential environmental and health hazards caused by the site”. The Agency said the joint clearance operation would commence once it has “clarified … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news Andigestion invests £2.3m in biogas cleaning plant Berkshire-based anaerobic digestion specialist Andigestion has unveiled a £2.3 million investment in a state-of-the-art bio methane cleaning plant at its AD facility at Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire. According to the firm, the new technology will enable the facility to export a total of 3 million cubic metres of natural gas to the grid per year. Bio … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news Material Change expands with composting acquisition Lincolnshire-organic waste treatment firm Material Change has announced the acquisition of green waste composting business Organic Recycling Ltd. The deal sees Material Change take over the operation of Organic Recycling’s 56,000 tonnes-per-year capacity open windrow composting site at Crowland near Peterborough. The Crowland site also has planning permission for a 2.8MW anaerobic digestion fac… letsrecycle.com News · 9 Apr 2015 Industry news Trade bodies renew pressure over Office for Resource Management A leading group of trade bodies in the environmental, resources and engineering sectors has written to the leaders of the main political parties calling for them to back the establishment of an Office for Resource Management after the election. The policy has been discussed as a means of pooling expertise within government on resources and … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2015 Industry news HSE investigates Cumbria waste site injury The Health and Safety Executive has launched a formal investigation after a man was hospitalised when his legs became trapped in machinery at waste management firm Cumbria Waste Group’s Distington site on Sunday (April 5). A spokesman for Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters were called to the scene on Pittwood Road near Lillyhall … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2015 Industry news Defra assesses future of plastics packaging target The government is seeking views on the future of plastics packaging targets, after research suggested that the recycling rate for the material is higher than previously thought. A consultation paper was launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) last month, seeking views on proposed amendments to the laws governing packaging waste … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2015