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News in Brief (27/02/2017)

With news on: York waste prevention fund; DS Smith relocates recycling facilities; Cawleys celebrates anniversary, and Kingston flats incentive scheme.

Phil Gudgeon of Cawleys and Spencer Law of RVS

York to consider funding for waste prevention projects

A ‘fix-it cafe’,  pumpkin project and composting campaigns are among the projects that could be set up in York, due to funding from City of York Council’s £30,000 York community recycling fund.

A number of community groups across York have submitted bids to support their projects which could help reduce waste.

City of York council is considering funding for schemes to reduce waste (Picture from Shutterstock: Chris Dorney)

A report detailing the fund will be taken to a meeting on 6 March, where the councillor responsible for the environment will be asked to approve awarding the funds.

Cllr Andrew Waller, executive member for the environment, said: “We’re delighted to have received so much interest in this fund from such a wide range of different community projects. This will really help these communities and groups reduce waste and encourage re-use.

“By providing the funding we are enabling them to get their campaigns off the ground, which will really help us to create a more sustainable and resilient One Planet York and make York the Greenest City in the North.”

Twenty one applications from groups across the city were submitted as part of the application process.

Of those who applied for funding, 11 projects are set to receive full funding. These include Bell Farm Residents Association, which bid for £2,500 for weekly food sharing and ‘food from waste’ club and a monthly swap shop.  Archbishops Holgate’s School bid for £5,000 for a bike repair and reuse project.

Seven projects are also set to receive part funding towards their projects too. Funding could enable St Nicks to run a six month ‘York-Fix it’ cafe pilot. The project is set to receive £2,243, which will involve monthly workshops and weekly drop in sessions, to promote waste minimisation and prevent waste to landfill by sharing skills, up-cycling and repairing items.

The fund was open to registered charities, not-for-profit organisations (including social enterprises), community or voluntary groups, schools, colleges or universities, residents associations and Parish Councils. Projects also included a partnership with a private sector organisation.

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DS Smith invests in relocating recycling facilities

DS Smith is investing £4 million in its South West of England and East London recycling facilities to increase coverage and manage material quality.

The sites in East London and the South West of England are currently going through the planning process.

DS Smith is moving two of its recycling sites

The East London facility is moving to share a site with the company’s mill in Maidstone. This will allow DS Smith to continue servicing the London area as well as increasing coverage throughout the South East, the company says.

Mathew Prosser, DS Smith Recycling UK Managing Director, said: “This investment will improve our ability to manage material directly into the mill at Maidstone, due to its close proximity.”

The West London facility will remain unaffected and will continue to also serve London and the surrounding area.

In the South West of England the recycling facility is being moved from Keynsham to Avonmouth.

Mr Prosser added: “The Avonmouth site is a perfect logistics hub that will give us scope for improved recycling operations as well as providing better access to serve our customer base throughout Wales and the South, including key commercial areas of Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester.

“Changes to both facilities will increase our ability to reach more customers and process more tonnes.”

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Cawleys marks 70th anniversary with new vehicle

Luton-based waste management company Cawleys has unveiled a special anniversary refuse collection vehicle, to mark its 70th year in operation.

The Heil Big Bite has been remanufactured and liveried by Refuse Vehicle Solutions Ltd (RVS).

Phil Gudgeon of Cawleys and Spencer Law of RVS

Phil Gudgeon, head of waste collection at Cawleys said: “We have had special livery designed to mark this momentous milestone in the company’s history. The vehicle looks and operates like a new vehicle, thanks to RVS. We are so impressed that we have just bought another one exactly the same and that will also be painted with our anniversary logo.”

RVS will be carrying out full body and bin lift servicing on Cawleys refuse vehicles including LOLER testing and replacing hydraulic filters. As part of its Preventative Maintenance service the vehicles will be serviced twice a year.

Paul Brown, commercial director at RVS, said: “Congratulations to Cawleys on their Anniversary! They are a great company and we wish them continued success.  Over the years we’ve expanded our services so that we can provide customers like Cawleys with everything they need to keep their fleet running well.”

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Kingston to incentivise recycling in flats

Kingston council has chosen Local Green Points to provide a recycling rewards scheme for its 20,000 flats.

The new scheme will focus on increasing the amount of food recycled, as well as aiming to increase dry recycling and reduce disposal costs.

The scheme, which is being branded as “Kingston Recycling Rewards”, is funded through a grant of £188,625 which the council won from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s £11m Recycling Reward Scheme fund.

Kingston Recycling Rewards will be launched to residents in April 2017 with recycling and waste tonnages to be measured quarter on quarter.

Residents taking part in the scheme will benefit from a wide range of special offers provided by local retailers and there will be monthly voucher prizes of £25 and £15 for top recyclers.

Local charities are also set to benefit from the scheme through a donation fund of £9,500; residents will be encouraged to vote for popular local causes.

An online platform and mobile app are being developed so that residents can easily get involved, while there will be a contact centre to support residents who don’t have access to the internet.

Councillor Phil Doyle, portfolio holder for resident services at Kingston council, said: “Whilst Kingston is one of the top performing London boroughs for recycling, we recognise that residents who live in flats need additional support. That’s why we’re introducing a new recycling collection service for flats which will make it much easier for those residents to recycle.

“With its innovative points-for-recycling approach, Kingston Recycling Rewards will provide a big incentive for residents who live in flats to recycle more of their day to day waste.”

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