News in Brief

The UK's largest steelmaker has lowered the price it pays for steel cans delivered to its CanRoute centres to 75 per tonne.

The price had remained at 90 per tonne for many months, but Corus said it was lowering prices in response to the drop in packaging waste recovery note (PRN) prices towards the end of 2006. The company said it would monitor the PRN market and could review its can price again in April.

Dave Williams, manager at Corus Steel Packaging Recycling said: “Despite this drop in price paid for steel cans delivered to CanRoute collection centres, collectors will continue to be able to take advantage of the many benefits the system offers – prompt payment for cans, convenient locations, reduced storage needs, reduced delivery distances and transport costs and, of course, a secure and stable end market for steel packaging.”

The Red Rhino mini-crusher could allow building firms to reduce the amount of aggregates they bring in to a site

Buckinghamshire based engineering firm Red Rhino Crushers Ltd has developed a mini-crusher it says allows construction firms to recycle building waste on-site.

It says the machine will mean building firms will need less aggregate materials delivered, by allowing them to use material already available on site from demolitions or building waste. The Red Rhino mini-crusher can process more than 40 cubic metres of material a day, the company said.

Colin Campbell, technical and development director at Red Rhino, said: “Imagine the additional costs of having aggregate delivered to a site whilst spending even larger amounts on on-site waste removal to landfill. I designed a simple and useful machine that alleviates the costs of typical aggregate requirements for construction sites.”

Existing or new composting businesses are being offered a free support service to help them divert more garden and food waste from landfill over the next two years.

The not-for-profit company Envirolink Northwest, which is funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, offering assistance ranging from market research to business planning and design. Through its Remade Northwest project, the Warrington-based organisation is also offering help with licensing, planning applications and the development of markets for end products.

Ruth Burgin, organics manager at Envirolink, explained: “We're offering a variety of support packages because we realise that all composters are at different stages of development.”

B2B Compliance director Geoff Young with his application for approval as a compliance scheme

Producer compliance scheme B2B Compliance is claiming to be the first to submit an application for approval under the WEEE Regulations.

The company, which also claims to be the UK's largest producer compliance scheme, is backed by specialist medical, scientific and lighting industry organisations including the trade association GAMBICA.

Geoff Young, B2B's director, said the compliance scheme applied for registration under the regulations on January 3. Mr Young said: “Our operational plan and constitution have been in place for over two years and needed little adjustment to ensure that our submission conformed to the final regulations.”

Other compliance schemes aiming to assist electronics producers comply with the forthcoming WEEE Regulations have until January 31 to register, with producers given until March 15 to register with compliance schemes.

F&R; Cawley general manager David Watson, who passed away on December 28

Bedfordshire waste and recycling company F&R; Cawley Ltd has announced the death of its director and general manager David Watson, who passed away on December 28 while undergoing heart surgery at Harefield Hospital.

Involved in all aspects of the business since joining the company in 1982, Mr Watson was central to the planning and design of the company's transfer station and materials recycling facility, and was working on the installation of a new automated sorting and recycling plant when he died.

During his career Mr Watson also served on several industry committees and was a member of the Road Haulage Association Waste Management Committee and a Director of the Waste Industry Training Board. He leaves behind his wife Jan, son Alan and daughter Joanne with two grandchildren. F&R; Cawley said the company's thoughts were with them at this difficult time.

Managing director Jon Cawley said: “We are all stunned by Dave’s sudden death. We are still coming to terms with the situation. He had worked for us for nearly 25 years and helped to get the company where it is today.”