Manchester backs recycling 'transformation'

Manchester council leader Richard Leese when he launched the city's recycling consultation

Manchester city council's executive has backed plans for a series of major changes to the city's recycling services.

Councillors voted yesterday (September 10) to support the proposals, which were originally announced last week (see letsrecycle.com story) following a public consultation of ways to improve recycling in the city. They will see a number of changes including the introduction of kerbside recycling collections for a significantly larger number of materials than at present and an extension of the green waste service offered by contractor Enterprise to cover food waste as well.

Welcoming the councillors' decision, a spokesman for the council said: "We are delighted that our executive has approved this package of measures and we look forward to seeing this initiative increase recycling in the city."

---

Setback for Staffordshire EfW

Staffordshire county council's plans to develop an energy-from-waste facility as part of its PFI scheme have suffered a setback as members of South Staffordshire district council recommended further investigation into issues surrounding the project.

At a Regulatory Committee meeting held on September 2, the district council recommended that the county council look into issues surrounding traffic at the site and also its physical construction. However, Staffordshire is confident that it will not derail work on the 300,000 tonnes-a-year capacity facility, which is due to be built in South Staffordshire, as part of the council's £122.4 million PFI support received in July (see letsrecycle.com story).

Ian Benson, project director for the Four Ashes facility, said: "[South Staffordshire] accept the need for energy-from-waste but they would like the council to look more closely into traffic issues and the physical set up of the building.

"They are not rejecting it and not accepting it. Hopefully we will be able to continue and advance the process," he added.

Sarah Poxon, development control manger at South Staffordshire, said that the decisions were recommendations made by a consultee of the plans and "ultimately it is Staffordshire County Council who will have the final say".

---

Shopping centre praises recycling review

Queensgate shopping centre has seen improved recycling rates

Queensgate shopping centre in Peterborough has reported that it is already seeing benefits from a five month review of how it handles waste.

The independent review, carried out by environmental charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), was designed to uncover ways of surpassing the centre's 60% recycling rate and included a comprehensive review of how waste is handled and disposed of, with PECT claiming that the centre's recycling rate is already steadily increasing. Since the end of the review, the centre has installed a plastic bottle recycling point and introduced an automated lighting system to cut electricity consumption.

Roger Hutchings, Queensgate centre director, said: "With over 125 stores in Queensgate and Westgate Arcade, the audit was a massive undertaking and represents an important step in our long term plans to make Queensgate one of the most environmentally friendly shopping centres in the UK."

---

Green Recycling invests in picking station

Essex-based company Green Recycling has improved recycling rates at its Maldon materials recycling facility with the introduction of a new picking station system.

Installed and created by Derbyshire-based, steel manufacturer Skip Units Group, the new system of bays, flooring and chutes allows the waste disposal and recycling company to bale more card, paper, wood, metals, cans and all types of plastic ready for recycling. The system supplied to Green Recycling's central facility, which sorts 2,5000 tonnes of mixed waste an hour, allows metals to be removed by magnet while pickers take out paper, cardboard, wood and plastics.

Robert Smith of Green Recycling said: "Before we were having to pick pieces up off the floor, now the guys stand up straight it is a lot nicer place to work. A) it is increasing the tonnage we can handle and b) it is a lot better working environment."