Materials Recycling Week
15 June 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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Fresh landfill tax guidance on way as saga continues
The Government is to publish yet another guidance note on the controversial landfill tax changes - the third in a month - as the chaotic saga rumbles on. -
WEEE recast edges closer
The Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) recast has edged closer to becoming law after backing from the European Council of Ministers. -
Back to the future of recycling
Our new name Materials Recycling World echoes our beginnings back in 1912 as Waste Trade World -
Biffa lenders prepare debt-for-equity swap
Lenders to Biffa are preparing a debt-for-equity restructuring if the troubled waste company is unable to reduce its £1bn debt, according to reports. -
Big Interview: Lord Taylor on the challenges ahead
In an exclusive interview, waste minister Lord Taylor tells MRW how the Government is facing up to the challenge of bringing cohesion to the UK’s recycling and waste policy. James Illman reports -
Businesses shut as tax hike bites
Campaigners against the landfill tax hike say waste disposal businesses are closing at a rate of four a week and they are warning that a Jubilee weekend protest is growing more likely. -
Call for WEEE compliance costs evidence
The Government has called for evidence on the cost of complying with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. -
CASM helps firms get a boost out of energy savings
The CASM electric cylinder is an energy-efficient electromechanical solution for replacing conventional pneumatic cylinder systems and hydraulic lifts. -
Charter urges greater transparency over recycled material
The Resource Association has launched a charter to improve public information about end destinations of recovered materials. -
CIWM chief slams Defra's vision on waste
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) chief executive Steve Lee this week mocked last year’s waste review and urged Defra to take note of the Wales and Scotland government’s recycling plans. -
CIWM chief weighs into landfill tax debate
The chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has written to the Government expressing his concern over the controversial landfill tax hike. -
Construction firm 'strengthens position in waste sector'
Infrastructure and construction firm Balfour Beatty has said it is to increase its involvement in the waste sector. -
Contracts: 15 June 2012
MRW’s pick of the week’s new business -
Crime round-up - 15/06/2012
MRW’s regular round-up on court casesWood recycler fined for dust escape from yardWellingborough firm Larner Pallets (Recycling) was fined £3,000 with £3,000 costs for allowing wood dust to escape from its yard. The company admitted breaching the Environmental Protection Act1990 for more than a year. Wellingborough Magistrates heard on 24 May that nearby businesses complained that dust from wood chipping was so heavy it looked like snow coming down. -
Crisis summit as landfill tax row rumbles on
Waste firms are to meet Government officials today for further talks on controversial landfill tax guidance after clarifications late last week failed to assure industry leaders. -
Defra admits struggle to engage on waste prevention
Defra is struggling to get businesses and stakeholders outside the industry to engage with its desire to drive up waste prevention, a senior official has conceded. -
EA hosts international event to tackle waste crime
The Environment Agency has hosted an international summit on tackling waste exports. -
Equipment on the move
If you want to check out a vast array of heavy duty waste and recycling equipment in action thenHillhead 2012 will be a pretty good bet. Freelance journalist Marino Donati takes a look. -
Ferrous prices tumble as eurozone crisis bites
Ferrous prices have dropped significantly in the last couple of weeks, with merchants across the UK blaming the eurozone crisis. -
Global news - 15 June 2012
MRW brings you news from around the globe. We gather top international markets, business and policy news that affects the UK industry.Compiled by Neil Roberts NORTH AMERICACovanta secures Long Island EfW dealThe Long Island Power Authority has reached a deal to buy almost $1bn of electricity over 15 years from four energy-from-waste plants on Long Island, including three owned by Covanta.The authority will pay $989m for -
'Global waste challenge as big as climate change'
Annual global waste is set to rise from 1.3 billion tonnes to 2.2bn tonnes by 2025, posing challenges on a scale with climate change, according to a new report. -
Hazardous waste firm 'trading ahead of expectations'
Hazardous waste specialist Augean is trading “ahead of expectations” its chairman has told shareholders. -
HMRC agrees to work with industry over landfill tax
The waste industry and Government agencies have agreed to work together to show how residue from recycled construction materials can qualify for the lower rate of landfill tax. -
HMRC to further ‘clarify’ landfill tax
The Government is to publish further clarification on its controversial landfill tax changes but insists it is not making a U-turn. -
Labour: landfill tax hike ‘scandalous’
Labour has labelled controversial landfill tax changes a “scandalous tax hike on small businesses” and warned ministers risk destroying jobs and economic growth. -
Landfill fee increases 'reversed'
Re-issued guidance on the controversial landfill tax changes will result in “landfill sites reversing their fee increases”, according to a Treasury letter seen by MRW. -
Landfill fee increases to be reversed
The Treasury has revealed “clarifications” to the controversial landfill tax changes that will result in “landfill sites reversing their fee increases”, according to a Treasury letter seen by MRW. -
Landfill tax clarification is ‘shambles’
Clarification by Whitehall of controversial landfill tax (LFT) changes has been labelled a “shambles” by Labour and done little to defuse anger within the waste industry. -
Landfill tax legislation is quite clear
Has anything really changed following Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ brief and subsequent clarification to the landfill tax regime in respect to transfer stations and trommel fines?The answer, especially since the publishing of the Landfill Tax (Qualifying Material) Order 2011, is arguably nothing.The initial presumption that all fines should attract the higher rate of tax is incorrect and HMRC has now stated that, albeit in narrow circumstances, trommel fines can, if approp -
LME METALS round-up - 15 June
Promises of aid of up to e100bn (£80.9bn) for Spain’s ailing banks provided brief relief for everybody, but the metal markets could not get away from the ebb and flow of general financial market sentiment. -
London drivers face litter fines
Drivers in London face £100 fines if passengers throw rubbish out of their cars after laws come into effect later this month. -
Minister calls for recycling incentives
Local government minister Bob Neill has called for more incentive schemes to encourage recycling. -
Minister says industry misunderstood skip tax guidance
A minister has insisted there has been no change in tax policy on waste going to landfill sites - accusing the industry of “misintepreting” official guidance. -
Output steady for waste sector as recession takes root
The waste industry is faring better than many other sectors of the economy, according to the latest national industrial output statistics. -
Police chief insists metal theft crackdown will benefit legitimate merchants
The police chief in charge of the clampdown on metal theft has insisted the campaign will benefit legitimate scrap dealers. -
Profit boost for May Gurney
May Gurney reported a 17% pretax profit increase to £28.4m in the 12 months to 31 March 2012. -
Recovered paper - 15 June 2012
OCC export prices have entered a more stable phase after the steep decline seen earlier in the second quarter. But experts insist the position remains precarious given that most mills in China and Europe are carrying high stocks of finished products and raw material. -
Recycling workers in lucky escape
Two recycling workers had a lucky escape when a huge tree toppled onto their van. -
Row over destinations charter
A row has broken out over attempts to improve public information about the end destinations of recovered materials. -
Scania offers training for safer and more fuel efficient driving
Safe and fuel efficient driving (Larger Goods Vehicles and Passenger Carrying Vehicles) Scania driver CPC Module B, is one of the first of five driver trainer modules available from the vehicle manufacturer. -
Scrap steel exports up 3% last year
British scrap steel exports rose 3% in 2011, according to figures published by the Bureau of International Recycling. -
Scrubs up for food waste
The north west London prison is saving more than £20,000 a year composting its food waste while providing training and career opportunities for its inmates. Paul Tittle reports. -
Shares fall as organic waste firm announces £8m loss
Shares in anaerobic digestion and composting firm TEG fell by more than 50% on the day it reported it had failed to find a buyer and wanted to sell £2m of new shares. -
SITA fined £200k for employee death
SITA UK has been fined £200,000 plus costs and funeral expenses after a 21-year-old employee died from head injuries at one of its sites in the West Midlands. -
Skip leaders ‘delighted’ with tax clarification
Skip bosses have declared they are “delighted” with proposed clarifications to the controversial landfill tax changes. -
Stainless steel availablility low worldwide
Stainless steel recyclers from around the world have told the Bureau of International Recycling annual summit of low availability of the material. -
Taylor sets out his vision for waste
Waste minister Lord Taylor has labelled efforts to persuade councils to return to weekly bin rounds a “political imperative” and slammed some Tory MPs as “short sighted”, during an exclusive MRW interview. -
Thamesteel saved from administration
The Thamesteel works in Kent has been rescued, its administrators have announced. -
Veolia lawsuit dismissed in New York
Veolia Environnement has said a class action lawsuit filed against the company has been withdrawn. -
Veolia plans Jubilee clean-up
Veolia Environmental Services expects to collect about 30 tonnes of bunting, flags, banners and champagne bottles from the Jubilee River Pageant this weekend. -
Viridor consults residents on £154m recycling centre plans
People living near Viridor’s proposed £154m recycling centre in Glasgow have been sent guidance on commenting on the plans. -
Waste exporters 'face threat of theft and fraud'
Exporters are facing theft and fraud in the shipping process on top of fuel and container rate woes, a senior figure has warned. -
WEEE firm appoints new commercial director
Electronics recycler Environcom has announced the appointment of a new group commercial director. -
Wood - 15 June 2012
The UK market is expecting rises at the moment, especially in those areas with the higher gate fees, as the weakening euro and lack of demand from Scandinavia is causing stockpiling. -
Wrap funding boosts business food waste collections
Wrap has awarded funding to seven contractors to deliver food waste collection services to businesses. -
WRAP launches £1.5m innovation support fund
WRAP has launched a £1.5 million fund to increase business waste prevention and reuse. -
Zero waste M&S calls for action to boost business recycling
Government must do more to create a universal recycling service for business, according to Marks and Spencer’s head of waste and recycling.
