Materials Recycling Week
2 March 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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Drax scraps biomass plans
The UK bio-energy sector has been dealt a “potentially significant blow” with energy giant Drax axing plans to build a biomass plant in Yorkshire. -
Norfolk incinerator flood issue resolved
Flood risk and drainage arrangements for the proposed King’s Lynn incinerator site in Norfolk have been given the all clear by the Environment Agency. -
Awareness campaign urged for NI waste duties
Council recycling chiefs have called for a national awareness campaign of the controlled waste management duties in Northern Ireland. -
Big Interview: quality matters for Gemma Barratt
Waste management is such a huge industry with significant impacts, the fact I can feel comfortable that I’m part of a company that is doing something for the environment is important -
Biomass sector dealt double blow
The evolving biomass industry has been dealt a double blow in recent days with a fire at the UK’s largest facility and an energy firm ditching plans for a key plant. -
Campaigns keep metal packaging in the loop
Alupro’s Rick Hindley examines how partners across the recycling, metal packaging, reprocessing and drinks industries are leading the drive to maximise metal recycling performance. -
Collapsed CRT firm put up for sale
A TV glass recycling firm that closed in January saying it could not afford changes required by the Environment Agency is being advertised for sale after investment talks collapsed. -
Commingled collections allowed but spotlight is back on MRF code
As widely expected, Defra’s proposed amendments to the waste regulations on separate collection of household recycling will allow waste collection authorities to continue to collect commingled material. What are the implications? -
Contractual tangles warning for weekly collection fund bidders
Councils will have to clear a number of costly hurdles with their waste management contractors if they successfully bid for a slice of the government’s £250m weekly collection fund, waste experts warned this week. -
Council says collection switch will cut costs by 5%
Melton Borough Council is to introduce a commingled collection service in a bid to slash costs and increase recycling. -
Councils slammed as 'archaic' over plastic bottles slight
A senior industry figure has branded councils that do not collect plastic bottles for recycling as “archaic” and accused them of presiding over “environmental madness” as the sector gears up for a huge targets hike. -
Deben to chair food waste supergroup
Former environment secretary Lord Deben has been given a key role in an attempt to eradicate food waste from landfill by 2020. -
Defra committed to collection policy
Defra has begun a consultation on proposed amendments to the waste regulations on the separate collection of recycling materials. -
Defra makes hazardous waste plea
Defra has called on waste firms to shop companies dealing with hazardous waste outside the law, amid concerns that producers are sidestepping legislation. -
Eco Plastics' Short named 'industry champion'
Regular MRW contributor Jonathan Short has been named one of the top 30 “industry champions”. -
Fire being fought at WRG site in Suffolk
Firefighters were this week tackling a blaze at a Waste Recycling Group facility in Suffolk 24 hours after it broke out. -
Fire rages at leading biomass plant
A blaze has erupted at Tilbury power station in Essex, Britain’s largest dedicated biomass plant, after 4,000 tonnes of fuel in storage cells caught fire, according to reports. -
HWRC to close after charges trial
A former council recycling centre taken over by a private firm for a pay-as-you-throw trial has closed due to under-use. -
Illegal waste exporters hit with maximum fines
Two businesses responsible for illegally exporting 259 tonnes of waste to China have been fined the maximum £5,000. -
Improved targets must push industry but be achievable
The UK is exceeding its EU packaging recycling targets. Where do we go from here? Dan Rogerson MP examines the need for better targets -
It serves the planet to deviate from hierarchy
Altogether, 46 AD facilities in the UK are capable of generating 60 megawatts of renewable electricity – enough to power 40,000 homes. -
Mayoral candidates 'should prioritise waste infrastructure'
Investment in waste infrastructure must be high on the agenda of the next London mayor, an influential trade body has insisted. -
New AD firm backed by Prince of Wales and Sainsbury's
A new company has been launched to develop a network of more than 40 anaerobic digestion (AD) plants to generate 100MW of electricity during the next five years. -
Northants waste contractors wanted
Northamptonshire County Council is seeking waste management contactors for a seven-year deal. -
Pickles attacks weekly collection rebels
Eric Pickles has accused Sheffield City Council of “intentionally ignoring” his £250m weekly bin collections fund and urged the authority to review its recent decision to move to fortnightly bin collections. -
Real cost of waste collection fund
A significant chunk of the Weekly Collection Support Scheme fund could be spent on legal costs and administration -
Recycling in Scotland flatlines
Scottish councils recycled 43.6% of the household waste they collected between July and September 2011, according to official statistics. -
Reprocessors urge quality focus in collections debate
A senior figure has called on the recycling industry to move beyond the “co-mingled versus kerbside sort” debate and focus on quality standards. -
Scottish landfill tax flaw highlighted
Ministers are to correct a legal “flaw” that means landfill sites in Scotland have been outside the scope of landfill tax for more than a decade. -
Scrap industry chief attacks 'last resort policing'
A metal recycling industry leader has condemned “unacceptable posturing” by police as anger grows against the tactics used in the battle against metal theft. -
Textiles recyclers to step up work with police
The Textiles Recycling Association is to step up work with police to combat theft from clothing collections. -
Tilbury fire sparks Biomass safety warning
Biomass plants pose “considerable public safety risks”, environmental campaigners have claimed, following a blaze at Tilbury power station in Essex. -
Veolia launches book recycle scheme in Lambeth
A book recycling scheme has been launched in London ahead of World Book Day on 1 March. -
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