Biffa partners with Yorkshire Water for grit project
Biffa and Yorkshire Water have partnered to process grit into a blended aggregate which is ready for the construction sector to use in materials such as concrete blocks.
In the waste water industry, grit is a material which is screened out as water and wastewater is processed at treatment works. The removed grit was previously sent to landfill.
Biffa will now collect grit from 600 treatment works and transport it for treatment.
As well as recycling Yorkshire Water’s grit, Biffa says it is also working with the company to ensure the waste product is sent to a Yorkshire-based company and used to produce materials which are then used solely in Yorkshire.
Tim Pamely, corporate account manager at Biffa, said: “We’ve worked together using innovative process design to create a sustainable alternative use for water treatment by-products like grit which is now being turned back into a usable product for the building sector. This scheme has also helped make our journeys more efficient decreasing emissions as there are fewer trucks on the road.”
IPL to manufacture 100% recyclable food waste caddies
Plastic recyclers IPL Group has announced it is manufacturing food waste caddies out of recycled plastic.
The caddies are made of 100% recycled plastic and include features such as a wide aperture to easily empty food into the container, with a lockable handle.
The plastic recyclers said that the kitchen caddies can be used alongside its larger 23 litre kerbside food waste collection caddy.
The company explained: “IPL as a group regularly recycle in excess of 20,000 tonnes of end-of-life plastic. Our solution is based around how we partner with a polymer supplier that turns old end- of-life plastic, into brand new plastic. We then use this recycled plastic polymer in the manufacturing of our product.
“The product is then used as part of a recycling management scheme. Our products are specifically created with the UK market in mind, our 5 and 7 litre kitchen caddies offer a practical solution to food waste recycling within the home.”
Innovate Recycle receives grant for carpet recycling plant
Innovate Recycle says it has now secured more than £4 million in funding after a “successful private investors funding round”.
Previously the company secured a £2.35m award from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), Getting Building Fund and a now a further input of £1.778m from private funds.
Innovate Recycle says its facility in Wellingborough, about 30 miles west of Cambridge, will be able to process 20,000 tonnes of carpet per year from across the Midlands, East and South East of England.
Although the exact process is an “IP protected”, the plant will “recapture” polypropylene fibre by deconstructing waste carpet. It says this can then be sold for £600 a tonne, creating a value for waste carpet.
Joseph Eccleston CEO of Innovate Recycle explained: “We will work closely with the carpet industry to increase the environmental performance of carpet manufacturing. Innovate Recycle are at the forefront of new technology in the UK and our processes enable deconstruction and resource recapture from end-of-life carpets, this enables the reuse of these valuable resources, in particular polypropylene”.
NE Lincs to trial food waste collections
North East Lincolnshire Council is launching a weekly food waste collection on one of its bin rounds next month.
The trial will begin from the end of next month and see the council’s in-house team start collecting food waste from 4,680 properties every week.
The homes are in parts of wards including Humberston, Sydney Sussex, Yarborough, Immingham and Park.
According to the council, food waste makes up around 25% of its residual waste, and rolling out a service will help to both increase recycling rates and reduce the smell from residual waste.
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport at North East Lincolnshire council, said: “From 2023, the government wants all councils to collect food waste separately. By starting the food waste pilot now, the council is preparing households in the area for these future changes.”
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