Materials Recycling Week
27 January 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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Halve food waste by 2025, say MEPs
Urgent measures to halve food waste by 2025 and to improved access to food for needy citizens across Europe are needed, MEPs have announced. -
Landfill firm fined
A Kent firm has been fined for repeatedly breaching its landfill permit, the Environment Agency has announced. -
Axing HWRCs a concern, agrees minister
A defra minister has urged councils to ensure the closure of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) does not lead to additional waste going to landfill. -
Biffa 'seeking merger partner'
Biffa may be seeking to further consolidate the waste management industry through a merger, according to reports. -
Cabinet discusses banning cash trade for scrap
The government is understood to be preparing to back new legislation to ban cash payments for scrap metal after a private members bill was thrown out last week. -
Cheshire waste project set for chop
Council leaders are calling for plans for a £850m waste disposal contract to be ditched after they failed to overturn a government decision to withdraw funding. -
CRT firm in talks to prevent closure
A Flintshire firm which last week said it was facing closure because of Environment Agency rule changes has said it is in talks with a third party about saving the business. -
Cumbria responds to MP's criticism over HWRCs
Any councillor’s ears will inevitably prick up when the business of his council is discussed in Parliament. So I followed the Commons debate raised by Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron MP on Cumbria County Council’s proposals to close six Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) with interest.One of the key arguments made in the Commons was that if we close HWRCs, then the waste would be landfilled and that would be crazy in a world where we’re trying to increase recycling.Ho -
Dorset councils agree joint waste service
The seven councils that make up the Waste Partnership (DWP) have agreed a new waste collection service that they say will boost recycling rates and save up to £2m. -
EA investigates orchestrated bag dumping
Waste crime officers are investigating a strange spate of carrier bag dumping in the North-east. -
Effective outcomes
Plenty of work is going on to maximise the capture and processing of plastics to improve sustainability, writes Marcus Gover -
ESA calls for increased subsidies for incinerators
Waste incineration should be eligible for government renewable energy subsidies, a key trade body has insisted. -
Firm fined for waste offences next to beauty spot
A skip hire firm based on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty has been fined £20,000 for waste offences.GR Shorthouse was convicted at Kidderminster Magistrates Court of operating a regulated waste facility without an environmental permit; and failing on three occasions to ensure that Waste Transfer Notes were correctly completed.The company was fined £14,000 for the illegal waste operation, and £2,000 for each of the record-keeping offences. It was also ordered to -
Incinerator study gets green light
A fresh government-backed study into the potential health risks of incinerators has been given the go-ahead, sparking concerns that key projects could be de-railed. -
Metal theft bill blocked
Legislation aimed at tackling metal theft remains likely after proposals in a private members’ bill failed to get minsterial backing. -
New Euro WEEE targets agreed
MEPs have backed tighter laws on electronic waste, which could require the UK to collect 85% of WEEE generated within seven years. -
Pilot Scottish fund for collaborative recycling
Zero Waste Scotland has launched a fund to support small businesses to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to help them recycle more in response to the country’s most recent waste regulations. -
Planning to cut waste
Is the construction industry making the most of site waste management plans, which are intended to cut waste and save on building costs? Alexandra Evans reports -
Recycling industry now worth £23bn in UK
The UK recycling industry was worth £23.3bn last year, up 15% on the year before, according to research. -
Reuse firm faces closure
A Cornish reuse organisation is facing closure after being squeezed by the economic conditions and government policy. -
SAICA opens new mill
SAICA’s new recycled paper mill in Partington in Greater Manchester has produced its first paper ahead of schedule. -
Scrap law change backed by environmental health group
Environmental health specialists have added their voice to calls for new legislation to tighten the licensing regime for the scrap metal trade. -
Sita on track to recycle train waste
Sita is now recycling waste collected at all 24 train stations managed by Essex and East of England train firm c2c. -
Spelman backs fly-tipping action
The environment secretary has defended cuts to the Keep Britain Tidy campaign and backed councils taking action against fly-tipping offenders. -
Thinking through waste strategy
Last-minute deals mean waste is causing chaos and blighting communities -
Valpak deal ‘ludicrous’, says rival
Valpak directors have been accused of trying to buy the company “on the cheap”, ahead of a crucial vote on the future ownership of the compliance scheme. -
Villagers lose court appeal against nuclear waste dumping
Protesters have lost their appeal against ministerial approval for radioactive waste being dumped in a landfill site. -
We need open debate to secure public acceptance of AD
It is six months since Defra launched its Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan. Rebecca Eatwell at PPS Group asks whether Government backing has led to wider public acceptance of the technology. -
Well wrapped
Mark Smith looks at issues facing the industry and the factors determining the right baling equipment choice -
What next in the Norfolk incinerator row?
Spelman releases £91m of private finance initiative (PFI) credits prompting another legal challenge
