India introduces new controls on imported material

The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has introduced new legislative controls over recyclable material imported into the country, despite concerns from the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) that they could cause confusion.

The new regulations mean that non-hazardous waste imports will be reclassified as hazardous and will require a completed pre-shipment inspection certificate and a hazardous waste movement form, Form-9. This will cover the following waste classed as non-hazardous under the Basel Convention: All ferrous and non-ferrous metals scrap; electrical materials scrap not contaminated; mixed non-ferrous scrap, heavy fraction scrap not contaminated; metal-bearing wastes from smelting and refining; mill scaling from iron & steel manufacture; and, all paper and cardboard scrap/waste.

However, the BIR has raised concerns that the amended regulations are incompatible with existing Basel Convention and EU Shipment Regulations on what material is classed as hazardous and which are not. BIR has voiced its concerns to the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme.

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Premier announces scientific advisory group

The Scientific Advisory Group is intended to boost Premier's research in the waste management sector

Durham-based waste and recycling company Premier Waste has established a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) to carry out research into waste management.

The SAG consists of four eminent scientists, who Premier claim are "world class and leaders in their fields". The scientists are: Professor Nigel Lightfoot; Professor Ed Stentiford; Professor Tom Curtis; and, Dr Brian Chambers. The four scientists will meet quarterly to share findings, consolidate research and discuss issues both environmental and waste management related. The group will also be tasked with developing research and white papers that will influence the future of the industry.

The first issue that SAG will consider for Premier Waste is the wider environmental issue of phosphates. Headed by Dr Brian Chambers, an expert in this field, the research will aim to uncover the nature of phosphate depletion in the world and assess issues such as how waste management practices could help create replacements for phosphates and fertilisers to be used in the agricultural sector.

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Three new members for Tyre Recovery Association

The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has welcomed three new members into its ranks.

The new companies to join the trade association are Milton Keynes-based PB Tyres, Statham Tyre & Co (UK) Limited of Cheshire, and TRS Tyres of Morecambe. The companies have met the Association's membership criteria and all have expressed the wish to be audited and accredited to the tyre industry's best practice programme, the Responsible Recycler Scheme (RRS). The Tyre Industry Federation Responsible Recycler Scheme was set up to ensure all used tyres collected from any designated premises are re-used or recycled in ways which comply with UK and European statutory regulations.

Announcement of the new members comes as the TRA warned all tyre recycling firms about rogue collectors in the Essex, South East and South London areas using illegal, forged collection notes.

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REY helps fund Selby firm expansion

Steve Ogden, project manager at REY, and Nick Brightey, general manager of Potter Group, with the Potter Group's new baler

Regional development agency Resource Efficiency Yorkshire (REY) has helped Selby-based logistics firm Potter Group to triple its recycling storage capacity after issuing a grant for the company to purchase a baler.

REY, a business support and market development delivery programme funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), provided £54,000 to assist the Potter Group to purchase its new baler, which means the Potter Group can now offer recycling services for paper, card, plastics and aluminium cans to customers within a 25 mile radius, including Goole, Doncaster and York. Having successfully obtained investment to develop this recycling service, the Potter Group is keen to encourage other recycling businesses to locate to its 62 acre site in Selby.

Nick Brightey, general manager of the Potter Group said: "As we can now process a variety of waste streams, we hope to gain more business from new and existing customers. We intend to use the rail connection at our Selby site whenever possible. It is a resource that means we can offer our customers a 360 degree processing and shipping service."

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Scottish firm awarded government research grant

Grangemouth-based Impact Laboratories has won a business grant from the Scottish Government to investigate the use of varied waste materials in the development of material for commercial use.

BP Chemicals spin-off Impact claims that the funding from SMART, which is an initiative which looks to provide financial support to research and innovation projects in Scotland, will allow it to develop an application for the timber-replacement market by creating a fibre/plastic composite from commercial waste. Impact intends to work directly with unsorted and domestic residual waste and will combine some of the outputs from this stream together with selected commercial modified cellulose products which are currently not recycled.

Rob Meek, Impact chief executive, said: "We all use plastic - day to day - and the time for its effective and responsible waste management is now. This new SMART award gives us a pioneering role in helping to make mixed plastics recycling really happen."