Materials Recycling Week
27 May 2005
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Bomb unearthed at UK's largest compost facility
A live bomb waiting to explode at any minute was found in grounds containing the country's biggest composting site last week. The high explosive artillery shell was discovered at White Moss Horticulture's 400-acre site in Kirkby, Liverpool after a peat-harvester ran over it. "The harvest tractor unearthed the bomb but the driver couldn't see what it was, so he had a closer look," said White Moss Horticulture composting manager Paul Whyatt. "He then realised wh -
Comment: WEEE success depends on throwaway solution
There are very few people in the recycling industry that would disagree that kerbside collections have made a massive difference to boosting recycling rates. When we live in an increasingly busy world, a couple of minutes spent putting a bag or box onto the kerbside is a chore that many of us are happy to do. Although, even this for some people, is still perceived as too much effort. So why will people take their Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to the civic amenity (CA) s -
Councils call for waste education drive on top of latest powers
On the eve of gaining greater powers to tackle fly-tipping and litter, the Local Government Association (LGA) has called for more money for waste education. On June 7, two months after the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act became law, fly-tipping will become an arrestable offence as its maximum sentence rises to a £50,000 fine and five years imprisonment. In addition, those caught illegally dumping waste will no longer be able to use the defence of acting un -
Defra to consult on WEEE treatment facilities
A consultation has been launched into how treatment facilities dealing with electrical waste can meet tighter permitting controls that are due to be introduced at the end of this year. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is seeking views on proposed changes to the treatment of electrical waste as required under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. From January 1 2006, these facilities will need to apply for waste management -
EA tells Alupro that 2004 targets were not missed
Aluminium targets were not missed last year, the Environment Agency has told the aluminium packaging industry body Alupro. Despite reports that suggested that a shortage of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) had meant targets had not been met, this was not the case. Alupro chief executive Paul Martin said: "It has taken a while to establish with our reprocessor members and the Environment Agency the reasons for the lower-than-expected 2004 figures. But it is now clear that -
Endurance test passed by Sims Metal boss
Imagine running 250 kilometres over six days through the Sahara desert, in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees celsius and losing over a stone in weight in the process. This torturous experience was exactly what the boss of a metal recycling firm endured to raise over £24,000 for children's charity Childline. Sims Metal managing director Tom Bird completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables- dubbed the toughest race on earth - in 39 hours, 59 minutes and 41 seconds. -
Europe hits packaging targets while UK trails behind
Cross-sector partnership ASSSURE has released its analysis of the Packaging and Packaging Waste statistics for 2002. It shows that on average, the 12 EU countries affected by the Packaging Waste Directive have already met the 2008 target to recycle 55% of packaging waste. However, the UK is one of five countries with a packaging recycling rate still lower than this, trailing at 44%. Despite this, the report commended the UK for the progress made over the last few years. It sai -
Feature: Board of trade
Paper and cardboard collections from trade waste could not only play a significant role in counting against Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) targets but also be an income generator for local authorities. A new report from environmental consultancy Enviros aims to develop the opportunity that trade waste recycling presents by establishing best practice guidance. In turn, the guidance aims to identify the main considerations that need to be taken into account when implementing a tra -
Feauture: Do schools need a kick up the Rs?
Reduce, re-use and recycle. It's a common mantra at junior and secondary schools around the country. But there is no doubt that reaching the very young is easier than the young-adults of secondary education. In the south west of England organisations such as The Recycling Consortium, Envolve and Bath and North East Somerset local authority have been developing a multi-faceted approach that aims to reduce waste produced by schools, educate the children and create mini-lobbyists within the regi -
Flat block trial to help borough to boost recycling
A database has been set up by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to help it boost recycling in blocks of flats. The data will enable council officers to identify which systems are delivering the best results and highlight those areas in need of improvement. With 83% of households in the London borough comprised of flats, this means it is harder to service them with recycling facilities. This is because there are often very different waste management s -
German invite for UK waste management firms
People involved in the waste management are being invited to Germany to see how they do things there. UK Trade and Investment, Germany is organising a waste management mission to the country that will involve presentations by German waste management experts, a day of visits to reference sites and a partnering event. Germany is a pioneer in the waste management industry with particular success in separation, composting and the recovery of raw materials, and waste disposal -
LARAC and REPIC call for more work with local authorities
There aren't enough suitable civic amenity sites for the Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling schemes proposed by producers, according to Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) chairman Lee Marshall. His comments come just one week after British Retail Consortium (BRC) launched its WEEE compliance scheme ( -
Lib Dems want London mayor to do more
London Assembly Liberal Democrats have called on London Mayor Ken Livingstone to improve recycling around the London Underground. The LibDems want to see more newspaper recycling facilities at every London Underground station together with collection points for containers such as tins, glass, plastics and batteries at principal tube stations. They would also like to have secure recycling points in all public squares in London, including Trafalgar Square. And t -
News Analysis: Is there really no difference between cloth and disposable nappies?
The Environment Agency (EA) last week released its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of disposable and reusable nappies. Its conclusion, which was splashed across television and the national papers, was that there was no difference in the environmental impact of either kind of nappy. The LCA, carried out by independent consultants Environmental Resources Management over a four-year period, found that reusable nappies' environmental benefit of reducing the waste sent to landfill was cancelle -
Smith Anderson produces new packaging material from drinks cartons
A recycling facility that was the first of its kind is now processing 3.6 million drinks cartons each week. Smith Anderson's plant at Fettykil Mills was opened in July 2003, and uses hydrapulping technology to turn waste cartons into recycled paper products including carrier bags and envelopes. The high quality, long fibres produced in the recycling of drinks cartons has enabled Smith Anderson to produce a new heavyweight press board for the packaging industry. -
Triple capacity for green waste site
Hampshire residents recycle so much green waste that waste contractor Onyx this week announced plans to triple the capacity at one of its composting sites. The site at Little Bushy Warren Copse is one of three composting facilities operated by Onyx as part of Project Integra Recycle for Hampshire. Onyx composting manager Peter Mills said: "In the eight years since the introduction of green waste composting, Onyx has processed over 500,000 tonnes of green material and recycled it into -
TV star Vernon to host Manchester awards
TV and radio star Vernon Kay is to be the star face of the Race to Recycle Awards at Manchester United Football Club on June 29. TV star Vernon Kaye is backing Shotton's awards UPM Shotton will give away a £46,000 prize fund as it unveils which top three Greater Manchester authorities have manag -
Viagra's waste advisers bought by consultancy firm
Environmental consultant SLR Consulting has bought waste treatment specialist Waste Management Engineering (WMEL) for an undisclosed fee. WMEL advises blue chip companies such as Pfizer, manufacturers of the erectile dysfunction tablet Viagra, on waste treatment and pollution control. SLR Consulting said it had acquired WMEL as part of its strategy to extend the range of waste management services it offers to industry, local and national government and regulatory authori
