News in brief

ESA launches biowaste strategy at RWM

The strategy entitled ‘Circular Organics: Biowaste in a Circular Economy’ was launched on the first day of the RWM 2014 exhibition (September 16) at the Birmingham NEC arena and also aims to set out the ESA’s vision for the way forward and offer a set of ‘concrete actions’ that the ESA believes will move the sector closer to a circular economy.

Chairman of ESA’s Biotreatment Working Group, Stuart Hayward-Higham, said: “The ESA Biotreatment Strategy seeks to explain the market in which we operate, to explore the barriers and solutions that exist and to deliver our vision in a practical way. We believe that this strategy, if adopted, could help maximise the benefits from this valuable resource.”

ESA’s director general Barry Dennis added: “This strategy looks across the complete biowaste landscape and highlights the effective solutions to treating and managing this material within a circular economy.”

Warwickshire rolls out recycling service for SMEs

A new waste and recycling drop-off service aimed at small and medium-sized businesses has been launched by the Warwickshire Waste Partnership.

Under the new scheme, companies in the region can apply for a six-month commercial recycling permit, purchase pre-paid sacks or choose to pay-as-they-throw depending on their specific needs.

The £20 recycling permits will enable commercial enterprises – primarily micro businesses and sole traders – to take their recyclable materials into one of eight participating recycling centres at any time.

Centres participating in the scheme from this month include Cherry Orchard in Kenilworth, Burton Farm in Stratford, Shipston in Shipston on Stour, Princes Drive in Leamington Spa and Hunters Lane in Rugby. And, from November 5 2014, three more centres will also offer the service; Stockton, Wellesbourne and Lower House Farm in Atherstone.

The pre-paid 80-litre sacks will be sold in batches of 20 for £60, while pay-as-you throw prices depend on the type of material and volumes – ranging from £4 for up to 100 Kg of soil and hardcore, and £24 for the same quantity of plasterboard or gypsum. Waste electrical and electronic goods, gas cylinders and car tyres are also accepted on a pay-as-you throw basis – priced per item.

Cllr Jeff Clarke, chair of Warwickshire Waste Partnership, said: “There is huge latent demand for this type of flexible and cost-effective solution from responsible enterprises of all shapes and sizes – in particularly SMEs and fledgling micro businesses.”

NI carrier bag levy raises £1.3m for community projects

Northern Ireland’s environment minister Mark H Durkan is urging local communities and organisations to apply to the Challenge Fund 2015 in order to benefit from money collected as a result of the carrier bag levy.

He committed £1.3million from carrier bay levy receipts to the Challenge Fund 2015 in support of local community environmental projects.  Last year’s Challenge Fund – the first to be funded from bag levy receipts – helps deliver 250 local environmental projects.

Calling for people to apply, Mr Durkan said: “The fantastic response from shoppers and retailers to the carrier bag levy has led to a massive 72% decrease in ‘single use’ carrier bags and I am determined that the monies raised through the levy goes back to the community. The community pays the levy and I am ensuring that the community gets the benefit of it. I see this as the ‘People’s Fund.

“Applications for assistance from this years’ Fund close on Friday 3 October and I would urge local groups and organisations not to miss the deadline. Get inspired, be it developing community gardens, removing invasive species, or restoring local habitats or community renewable energy schemes, to name but a few. I would urge groups across the north to continue to undertake projects that benefit their local environment and communities.”

Veolia wins oil platform decommissioning project

Veolia Environmental Services UK has won a contract to decommission a 14,000 tonne oil platform in the Norwegian North Sea and the firm said it intends to recycle 99.7% of the structure.

The YME oil platform, spanning some 72m in length and 87m high, will be removed and towed in a single lift from its current North Sea location and subsequently dismantled by Veolia at its decommissioning site at Lutelandet in South West Norway. The 14,000 tonne offshore structure and equipment will be dismantled and recycled at Lutelandet, once the platform arrives in mid-2015. Veolia intends to recycle 99.7% of the structure and YME contains a range of valuable materials including precious metals, iron, steel and electrical items.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia Senior Executive Vice President UK and Ireland said: “This new decommissioning operation confirms Veolia’s strategic position and its expertise in this ever expanding £1 billion a year market with 2,000 platforms needing to be decommissioned over the next 10 years. This significant contract with YME will be our foothold in the oil and gas sector which is integral to our future growth.”

President of Malta to visit FareShare UK

The President of Malta will be visiting food redistribution charity FareShare UK this Friday (September 19) as the country prepares to open its first food bank in a bid to fight food poverty.

Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, will see FareShare’s main warehouse in Blackhorse Road, Deptford, London to find out how surplus food is being used to support people in the UK living in poverty and social exclusion.

FareShare is a member of FEBA (European Federation of Food Banks), which currently brings together 256 food banks in 21 countries to fight hunger and food waste. Guided by FEBA’s 30 years of experience of foodbanking in Europe, the Malta Food Bank Foundation plans to open the country’s first food bank in the coming months with the support of the President of Malta.

Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare said: “We’re very pleased and honoured to show H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the successful FareShare model and our social impact.  Both countries can learn from each other and it is also very inspiring to meet H.E. who is personally supporting an important social project to help people in poverty.”