News in brief

CellMark gets RDF import deal

A division of materials provider CellMark, the firm will manage the supply of RDF material, determining whether it is suitable for incineration at the HEM waste-to-energy facility in Halmstad, Sweden.

Ian Ledson, who joined CellMark as UK commercial director earlier this year (see letsrecycle.com story) welcomed the announcement.

He said: We are delighted to be appointed as HEMs exclusive partner, we would like to thank our existing UK and Ireland suppliers for their co-operation during HEMs extensive due diligence and we look forward to introducing more quality suppliers to HEM over the next three years.

CellMark supplies chemicals, metals, packaging, paper and pulp to worldwide markets. There will options to extend the HEM contract after the initial deadline has expired.

ESA calls for credible waste prevention plan

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has called for more work to be done to develop a credible prevention plan, suggesting government sustainable buying standards are applied to the wider public sector, in its response to Defra’s consultation on its Waste Prevention Plan.

Other recommendations included encouraging WRAP to focus its resources on the top of the waste hierarchy, and exploring the role of voluntary agreements to reduce waste arising across key sectors.

ESA director Matthew Farrow said: No one doubts that waste prevention is hard, and that it presents very different challenges compared to diverting waste from landfill. But Defra needs to show that it is up for this challenge when it publishes its formal Waste Prevention Plan at the end of the year.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a consultation on its Waste Prevention Programme last month (August 6), which the government is required to publish by January 2014 under the revised EU Waste Framework Directive.

PV CYCLE announces WEEE compliance scheme

Pan-European photovoltaic panel take-back and recycling scheme PV CYCLE has received approval from the Environment Agency to operate a producer compliance scheme in the UK from the 2014 compliance period.

PV panels are due to come within scope of WEEE regulations from January 2014, and the revision will require UK panel producers to join a producer compliance scheme in order to fulfil legal obligations.

David Burton, UK country manager for PV CYCLE said: “Our approval to operate a scheme creates a great opportunity for the PV sector to determine its own destiny and to maintain control of its costs through a PV industry-led approach as an alternative to other compliance providers.

The registration follows PV CYCLES decision to open up a UK office earlier this year, in order to provide legal compliance and support for distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.

Leicester man sentenced for illegal waste operation

A 68-year-old man has been sentenced to 34 months imprisonment for charges related to operating an illegal waste wood facility, breach of ASBO and criminal damage.

Leslie Collins of Whitwick, Leicester, was sentenced to 16 months for breaching environmental legislation and a further 18 months for the other charges at Leicester Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how, between February 17 and November 13 2012, Collins was witnessed unloading waste wood materials from his vehicle and taking them into his property to make kindling and other items, while causing harassment to his neighbours.

In October, Collins was convicted at Loughborough Magistrates Court for similar earlier offences.

After the hearing, an Environment Agency officer in charge of the investigation said: Mr Collins carried out these activities on a commercial scale risking damage to the environment, undercutting legitimate businesses and causing a nuisance to his neighbours. We work in partnership with the police and other enforcement agencies and value the contribution of vigilant members of the public to help crack down on waste crime.

SAICA Natur helps retailer reduce waste

Recycler and paper reprocesser SAICA Natur is helping retailer Screwfix achieve zero waste across its UK stores.

Screwfix, part of the Kingfisher Group, has worked with SAICA Natur to develop a waste management programme which has diverted 415 tonnes of waste from landfill in the last year.

Following an initial trial period, the scheme, which sees a backhauling delivery programme and two-stream recycling solution employed, has now been rolled out across Screwfixs 285 UK stores.

Screwfix quality manager Peter Harries said: We are delighted to have achieved zero waste to landfill status at our stores and are impressed by the efficiencies that we have been able to introduce.