Materials Recycling Week
23 December 2005
View all stories from this issue.
-
Ardagh complete acquisition of Redfearn Glass
The Competition Committee (CC) has formally cleared the completed acquisition by Ardagh International Holdings of Redfearn Glass. In its final report, the CC has concluded that the acquisition cannot be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within the market for the supply of glass containers in the UK. Prior to the acquisition, both companies produced glass containers for use in the food and beverage industries. Chairman of the inquiry group Diana -
British consumers ignorant of WEEE directive
The majority of British consumers have never heard of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, a new poll has revealed. A staggering 84% of people surveyed were ignorant of the directive, and fewer than one in ten deliberately recycle household appliances. Commissioned by the Recycling Electrical Producers’ Industry Consortium (REPIC), a not-for-profit recycling body, the poll has highlighted the need to inform consumers. Nearly half of the population -
DTI confirms WEEE delay
The delay to implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive in the UK has been confirmed by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) with mixed reviews from the industry. It was confirmed on December 15 2005, after the last issue of MRW before Christmas went to press. Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said: “This Government is firmly committed to sustainable development and recognises that effective implementation of the WEEE direct -
Edinburgh sets sights on 25% mark
The amount of garden waste collected in Edinburgh this year has almost doubled as the city sets its sights on meeting Scotland’s recycling target of 25% in 2006. Figures for collections from brown garden waste bins show an impressive progression from 7,000 tonnes in 2004 to 13,000 tonnes in 2005. Executive member for environmental services, councillor Robert Cairns said: “We want to thank Edinburgh residents for their recycling efforts over the last year. Due -
Environment Agency to have ASBO powers
Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) will soon be handed out by the Environment Agency (EA) to help tackle environmental crime, the Government revealed yesterday. The move, announced on the same day as the latest ASBO statistics were released, will allow environmental anti-social behaviour to be tackled more effectively and earlier. The number of ASBOs issued between April and June 2005 showed a 1% increase from the previous quarter. EA chief executive Barbara Youn -
Exhibition to challenge perceptions of waste
Artists from around Britain will show creative works created from rubbish, in an exhibition that starts next month. Dusk by Richard Langford – created from steel, silicon adhesive, metal and glass found from the River Thames Over 250 replies were received to an invitation for artwork placed in the Artists&r -
Glasgow first to set 10% minimum target
Glasgow City Council has become the first local authority in the UK to adopt a minimum 10% target for recycled content in all its major construction projects. Glasgow City Council, spokesperson for environmental sustainability, councillor Margaret Sinclair said: “Glasgow City Council has taken this decision to help stimulate demand for recycled materials and products as we recognise the contribution that this will make to using finite natural resources more sustainably. It wi -
HAZRED tackles hazardous waste
A three year project aimed at developing a sector-led approach to preventing and reducing hazardous waste has entered its second phase. The EU-funded HAZRED project will extend its activities to working with 120 small businesses across six priority industry sectors to monitor and evaluate the reduction in hazardous waste arisings and associated cost savings achieved. HAZRED project scientist Jon Foreman said: “The introduction of new hazardous waste obligations and -
Incineration advocated alongside recycling
A draft for the new European waste strategy has advocated using incineration on the same level as reuse and recycling. With waste generation in the EU estimated at more than 1.3 billion tonnes a year and increasing at a rate comparable to economic growth, the European Commission has proposed a new strategy that seeks to avoid waste, using it as a resource. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “Waste volume has been disproportionately increasing, outpacing e -
Merry Christmas from MRW
All of the staff at MRW would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We'll be back from January 3 bringing you all the latest and best recycling news. -
New EU rules adopted for battery recycling
The European Parliament adopted new EU rules on the recycling of batteries last week. The new directive, which received its second reading in Strasbourg, aims to prevent the use of heavy metals in batteries and accumulators. MEPs did not amend the collection targets proposed by the Council of Ministers — fixed at 25% of portable batteries after 6 years, and 45% after 10 years. But the European Parliament did adopt over 20 amendments, which included: that distrib -
New group encourages paper and board recycling
People are to be encouraged to recycle the five million tonnes of paper and board thrown away in the UK each year. With a growing recognition that this is not a sustainable approach in the long term, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has set up a Recycling Paper Advocacy Team (RPAT) to help raise awareness of the benefits of recycled content paper and boost its consumption across Europe. WRAP product manager for paper David Adams said: “Many people st -
New reports support the second-hand clothing trade
Two studies into the impact of the second-hand clothing (SHC) trade on Sub-Saharan African countries have concluded that it has positive social, economic, and environmental impacts on both the exporting and receiving countries. The first study, commissioned by Oxfam, looked at the impact of the SHC trade on new textile and clothing production in West Africa. There has been concern that the SHC trade may be undermining local textile industries, and consequently the livelihoods of it -
Sims invest in pan-European WEEE system
Sims UK is to invest in one of the largest multi-site, pan-European implementations of Microsoft Navision and REgenerist. A 105 user system across 35 sites will enable the company to become one of the biggest processors of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The two programmes have been developed specifically for the needs of the waste management and recycling industry and will allow for increased stock visibility, providing senior management with up-to-dat -
Wales hits 20% recycling mark
The Welsh Assembly Government’s drive to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill is proving successful, with new figures showing 20% of waste is now recycled. Wales has come a long way since 1999 when only 7% was recycled and ministers are now confident that the country can meet its target of 25% by 2006-07. Welsh Assembly minister for environment, planning and countryside Carwyn Jones said: “This is a major achievement and proof that, if everybody does -
WRAP gives 828,000 tonnes of recycling capacity
A programme run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has already created an additional 828,000 tonnes of recycling capacity in the construction and demolition (C&D) industry. WRAP’s eQuip Residual Value Guarantee (RVG) scheme has seen £3 million leased to 13 companies operating in the sector, meaning greater capacity for recycling waste materials such as aggregates, wood, plastics, glass and paper. While historically banks and lease finance
