MPs’ committee to examine Treasury recycling impact
The Environmental Audit Committee is to lead an inquiry into HM Treasury’s contribution to meeting waste and recycling targets, as part of a wider look into the Department’s sustainability credentials.
The Committee, which is chaired by the Labour MP and former shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh, has called for written submissions asking for evidence on the impact of the Treasury’s work on recycling at a national and local level.
This forms a part of the Committee’s ‘Sustainability and HM Treasury’ inquiry, opened in December on the role of HM Treasury in relation to sustainable development and environmental protection.
The latest phase will involve examining whether Treasury policy has played a positive role towards meeting government targets on recycling, and whether policy direction between Defra and HM Treasury are consistent.
Stakeholders are also being asked what impact Treasury policy has had on the ability to finance recycling projects over the course of the last Parliament as well as what impact current Treasury policy is likely to have on the achievement of the government’s recycling targets.
Statements of no more than 1,500 words have been called for by 9 June.
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Veolia Merseyside education centres reach landmark
Veolia has announced that it has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors through the doors of its ‘Recycling Discovery Centres’ on Merseyside.
The education centres in Liverpool and Wirral, which are run as part of Veolia’s long term contract with the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, reached the landmark recently with a group of Beavers and students from a college and primary school.
The centres offer a range of educational sessions and show visitors how material from recycling bins in Wirral, Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton and parts of Sefton is sorted and separated at the Materials Recovery Facilities.
Members of the public are treated to a tour of the facility where they can see the process in full and how recycling is processed using various techniques after it has been collected by district council crews.
Kirsty Martin, Education Officer at Veolia, said: “It was great to have a full day celebrating with the three diverse groups. We’re looking forward to another busy few months and our community open days in the summer!”
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Lincs opens Bourne HWRC
Lincolnshire county council has opened a £1.5 million household waste recycling centre (HWRC) at South Fen Road, Bourne.
According to the council, the purpose-built site boasts a number of improvements over its old Mays Road site, including a one-way system and convenient layout, making it more user friendly and reducing the likelihood of queues building up, at normal operating periods.
The new facility includes several large compactors which will allow more material to be compressed and stored onsite as well as reducing both the cost and the carbon footprint of hauling it from site for disposal or recycling. It also means that a wider range of materials can be recycled rather than being disposed of.
Councillor Reg Shore, executive member for waste and recycling, at Lincolnshire county council, said: “The county council has invested £1.5m in the new facility in Bourne. It will be run with greater efficiency, ensuring value for money for Lincolnshire tax payers and will ensure continuity of service provision.
“These new facilities will make it much easier for local residents to recycle more of their waste in a simple, quick and safe way.”
The site will be run by Environmental Waste Controls, under a one-year contract with the local authority, announced last month. The Bourne HWRC opened to residents last week (10 May).
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enitial to supply AmbiSense gas monitoring kit
Environmental monitoring specialist, enitial has announced a partnership with Irish company AmbiSense to supply its gas monitoring system – which can be used at landfill and anaerobic digestion sites – to the UK market.
The new addition to enitial’s environmental monitoring services is now available to hire and purchase.
Ivor Parry, business development director at enitial, said: “AmbiSense’s solar powered gas monitoring system expands our offering of field measurements services for gas or water pollution.
“This solar powered, continuous gas monitoring system is suitable for permanent deployment at any location and is designed to analyse gas and air quality levels across a range of markets.”
According to the manufacturer, the AmbiSense gas monitoring system requires no operator involvement and provides real-time accurate data, integrated with Google Maps. AmbiSense is mobile, tablet and PC ready and the software’s interface means users can login anywhere.
Gas yield and the profitability of existing gas utilisation plants is maximised thanks to the improved understanding of gas potential that reports provide.
The remote sensing technology reduces the risks of environmental pollution with the option to set alert and action trigger levels.
Stephen McNulty, chief executive at AmbiSense, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with enitial to supply our systems to the UK market and are confident that thanks to AmbiSense’s remote sensing technology, clients will soon reap the benefits of reduced environmental monitoring.”
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GPT manages waste from Edinburgh’s botanic gardens
GPT Waste Management Ltd has announced that is has won a contract with Sodexo to deliver waste management services for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).
RBGE is a world-renowned scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, it is also one of Scotland’s leading visitor attractions.
The site attracts nearly 900,000 visitors annually and each year the venue hosts around 80 weddings, 50 social events, 40 corporate events, the Botanic Lights in autumn, and a full Christmas and Hogmanay events programme.
GPT Waste has been appointed by Sodexo, which carries out the catering, cleaning, retail and marketing services at the site, as part of the long-term contract to manage waste streams arising from the RBGE.
The waste management aspect of the project began in February 2016.
Mike Callaghan, headof Business Development at GPT Waste Management Ltd, said: “It is a pleasure to have been selected to support Sodexo on this prestigious project. We look forward to delivering a service of excellence to reflect the world-class standards upheld by Sodexo.”
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