News in brief

Ealing launches on the go bins

The bins which can be used to deposit mixed paper, plastics and cans have been adorned with artwork following a competition for five to 16-year-olds to create a unique environmental message.

Out of 100 entries received, 20 were selected to feature on the containers, which can be found in Ealing Common, Northala Fields, Acton Park, Elthorne Park, and Norwood Green.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: The new service has extended the boundaries of recycling to outside the house, making it possible for residents to recycle even more.

The bins complement our fast paced lifestyle, and now, whether youre at home or outdoors, you can recycle and help the environment.

Wiltshire solar panels to help power MBT

Installation of a local authority-owned solar panel system on the roof of Hills Northacre Resource Recovery Centre in Westbury has been completed.

The 1,248 solar panels, owned by Wiltshire council, will generate 280,500 kWh of electricity per year and will help power the mechanical biological treatment process to convert household waste into solid recovered fuel (SRF) at the Northacre facility.

The facility is owned and operated by Hills Waste Solutions, as part of a 25-year contract with Wiltshire council.

The panels will produce feed-in-tariff savings of over 55,000 and an annual CO2 emission reductions of 148 tonnes. Meanwhile, the unit price of electricity produced by the panels is less than the current rate for Grid-supplied power.

Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for waste said: This is an ideal opportunity to use renewable energy to power a site which uses innovative technology and Im delighted that we are leading the way in doing this.

Havering achieves 25% Green Points sign up

Some 25% of households in the London borough of Havering have signed up to a recycling incentive scheme, seven months after it was first launched.

London Green Points was launched to all 100,000 households in the borough in January this year, and sees residents rewarded for recycling at the kerbside and a bring banks.

Once active, the card offers discounts in 120 retailers across the borough and the more points that residents earn, the more products can be purchased including vouchers and swims at the local leisure centre.

Councillor Robert Benham, cabinet member for environment, says: Its great to see so many Havering residents getting involved. The more people who sign up and start reducing the amount they throw away, the greater the impact the scheme will have, so to reach a 25% sign-up rate within six months of our launch is fantastic.

No mandatory waste plans for construction sector

The Welsh Government has announced that construction and demolition sectors will not need compulsory site waste management plans, after the industry achieved high recycling rates.

The announcement by new resource minister John Griffiths follows a consultation launched last year proposing that developers, builders and contractors should consider waste minimisation on construction sites.

While the responses were supportive, there were mixed views on the impact on smaller firms, including enforcement of the plans and additional fees.

Mr Griffiths said: Recent studies estimate that the 87% of construction and demolition waste is recycled, prepared for re-use or recovered for use elsewhere. Our target is for the industry to achieve 90% by 2019/20, so the sector is on track and I congratulate them for their efforts so far.

Scottish waste firm rebrands

Perthshire-based waste management company Binn Skips (Binnwaste Management) Ltd has officially rebranded as Binn Group.

The unveiling, which was launched during a business breakfast at the Perth Show, comes after more than 20 years delivering skip hire solutions, with the company poised to undergo expansion into the Scottish waste sector.

Establishment by father and son John and Allan MacGregor as a land diversification project at Binn Farm in in Glenfarg, the firm now has both domestic and trade clients and employs around 100 people.

Chief executive of the firm Allan MacGregor said: In conjunction with our waste business the Binn Eco Park concept will help us deliver on the drive towards the circular economy.

By linking resource management, renewable energy production, food production and manufacturing from our recycled materials the Binn will become one of the most advanced and integrated demonstrations of the circular economy in Europe.