Materials Recycling Week
22 July 2005
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Comment: National pride could provide recycling bin solution
Following the London Bombings on July 7 there has been, along with the grief and mourning for those that were killed or injured in the terrible tragedy, an outpouring of patriotism and national pride. London street vendors are doing a brisk trade in t-shirts featuring the red ring with a blue line through that is the London Underground symbol, emblazoned with slogans such as "not afraid" and "still not scared". There is even a website, www.werenotafraid.com, featuring a gallery of doc -
Confusion reigns over hazardous waste regulations
The implementation of the hazardous waste regulations was described as "chaotic", "inept" and "upsetting" by frontline workers this week. An MRW investigation found that many hazardous waste facilities were struggling under the weight of the changes to both what is classified as hazardous waste and what can be accepted by sites under the Waste Acceptance Criteria. Hazardous waste disposal firm Chemical Recoveries would normally take in 30-40 loads of hazardous waste per day, but on th -
Foam recycling centre opens
Plastics firm Kay-Metzeler has opened a recycling facility for foam packaging at its site in Chelmsford, Essex. The facility joins a network of industry-sponsored recycling points across the UK that accepts expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging waste from households and businesses. Kay-Metzeler is a member of the EPS Packaging Group, which represents EPS packaging and machinery manufacturers that are voluntarily setting up consumer recycling points for local communities. Local auth -
Furniture scheme's Lotto win
The Big Lottery Fund's Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) programme has awarded £89,322 to establish a Network Furniture Centre facility in Kidderminster. The project is run by Oldington and Foley Park Community Network, which collects unwanted furniture and passes it on at low cost to people in need. Big Lottery Fund's head of region for the West Midlands John Taylor said: "Making recycled furniture more available in Kidderminster is great news for the local en -
Government proposing bully tactics, claims industry figure
Government proposals on the Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive will let the big boys of electronics manufacturing hold their smaller rivals to ransom, an industry expert has claimed. The Recycling Electrical Producers Industry Consortium (REPIC) represents roughly 80% of the UK's electrical goods manufacturers and chief executive Philip Morton said plans to let firms buy their compliance under the directive would give large manufacturers a "legislative advantage" over -
Hazard warning
The impact of the Hazardous Waste Regulations, which came into effect in England and Wales on July 16, will be widely felt, as 200 waste types including computer monitors, fluorescent tubes, fridges and some batteries were added to the hazardous waste list. Disposal costs were set for a major hike due to the increased requirements for compliance testing by landfill operators and the number of landfills capable of accepting hazardous waste plummeted from 240 to 15. Waste management com -
Kitchen-top composter set to boost home recycling
A new composter, which is designed to handle virtually all household organic waste, is set to join the more standard array of kettles, breadboards and toasters adorning kitchen counter tops across the country. The product from Blackwall is set to be trialled by around 24 UK local authorities, following successful initial testing in East Sussex, according to the company. The caddy-style unit can be conveniently placed on counter tops as it is odour-free and does not attract fruit fl -
Landscapers can't see the wood for the trees
The landscaping industry is almost entirely unaware of the benefits of recycled woodchip, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which is promoting use of the material as mulch for plant beds and as a surface material for pathways and play areas. A WRAP-commissioned survey found that just 3% of landscaping specifiers, purchasers and professionals knew that recycled woodchip, could be used as a loose surfacing material. Only 2% of professionals surveyed had ac -
News analysis: Where do WEEE stand with the electrical waste directive?
Last week the European Commission began infraction proceedings against the UK for its delayed implementation of the Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive from August 13 2005 to January 2006. This could see the Government summoned to the European Court of Justice, but the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) justified its delay tactics as necessary for industry to be ready in time and to deliver regulations that were complete. Its new WEEE timetable proposed that the -
Our survey said: recycling is most important environmental practice
Around 70% of British people believe recycling is the most important thing they can do for the environment, compared to 46% six years ago, according to a recent MORI survey commissioned by INCPEN (the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment). The research highlights the success of Government and industry campaigns to raise public awareness around recycling since INCPEN last conducted research in 1999. The group, however, is concerned that the heavy emphasis on recycling mea -
Plastics could end ELV nightmare in the future
British researchers have developed new systems for making recyclable automotive panels and other parts from self-reinforced polypropylene (SrPP). The technology, they claim, offers a breakthrough for vehicle manufacturers seeking to meet the requirements of the End-of-Vehicle-Life directive. This development follows a two-year research programme by a consortium working on RECYCLE, under the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Foresight Vehicle initiative. -
Refuse vehicle driver given ticket on his round
A bin lorry driver for Cory Environmental has hit the national headlines after he was fined £30 for blocking a police car's progress. Paul Storton was on his round in Rushden, Northamptonshire and stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road to collect waste from nearby houses. This held up traffic and one of those stuck in the tailback was a Police officer that promptly gave Storton a ticket. In the Daily Mail Storton accused the policeman that issued the ticket of being " -
SITA seeks to expand landfill site
SITA UK is to seek local authority permission to double the capacity of its landfill site at Seghill, Northumberland. The company has organised a series public exhibitions next week to explain its plans to local residents. According to a company spokeswoman, the site's current capacity of 4 million cubic metres is 75% full and will be completely full within three years. She said the planned extension would enable tipping to continue at Seghill until 2022 - eight years later than its e -
Technology improves incinerator emissions
European research network EUREKA has developed a way of using chemically treated coal as a filter to clean up potentially dangerous emissions from the burning of waste. This could extend the use of incinerators throughout central and eastern Europe that would otherwise break European Union (EU) environmental laws. The coal eliminates polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and furans from the emissions of hospital and other hazardous waste incinerators. These highly dangerous substances
