News in brief

Biffa extends Staffordshire crew safety campaign

Members of Biffa’s South Staffordshire crew display the new shirts

All 50 of Biffa’s collection staff in the borough have been issued the bright yellow polo shirts have been overprinted with a road safety camera symbol and the slogan ‘Live recording on this vehicle’, as part of its ongoing campaign to improve safety for collection crews in the area.

The shirts were suggested by the staff themselves to limit poor and dangerous driving when they are out on rounds.

Since 360 degree video cameras were installed on all of Biffa’s 15-vehicle fleet in October 2013, 50 incidents of poor or aggressive driving have been recorded. In one instance, a loader suffered leg bruising.

Where number plates are legible, incidents are reported to the police for further investigation.

Matt Bailey, Biffa’s senior business manager for the South Staffordshire contract, said there is no reason for drivers to endanger his crews and vehicles.

He added: “They are out there doing a job that residents want them to do. All we ask is for some consideration by other road users. Our vehicles don’t hold up traffic for long, and drivers are usually soon on their way, so it really isn’t necessary to get impatient, frustrated or angry.”

Minister announces NI waste grants

Northern Ireland environment Minister Mark H Durkan has launched a £240,000 capital fund aimed at expanding recycling and reuse activities in the third sector.

Mr Durkan launched the fund

The capital grants are in addition to over £220,000 already allocated in 2014/15 from the Rethink Waste Revenue Fund.

The third sector has been ‘particularly proactive’  at reusing and recycling items such as furniture, bicycles paint and electrical equipment according to Mr Durkan, who hopes the funding will give further impetus to the voluntary sector.

He said: “This is a real boost for the voluntary and community sector, rate payers and the job market. The Third Sector is an important part of society and the social enterprise economy.

“Over the last decade it has been a leader in promoting a green economy ethos for resource efficiency and sustainability.”

SITA UK warns of fraudulent emails

Waste management firm SITA UK has reiterated its warning to customers and suppliers over fraudulent emails being circulated in its name.

SITA UK has warned of identity fraud

The firm warned recipients not to open an email an email entitled ‘Remittance Advice!!!’ sent from a .org address, as it contains a potentially malicious ZIP file.

The company advises recipients not to open the offending emails and to delete them immediately. It also reassured that its security and IT networks had not been compromised.

SITA UK has been forced to warn its clients against email scams already this year, with the firm previously targeted in May (see letsrecycle.com story).

Network Waste unveils bio plastic innovation

Waste management firm Network Waste has announced that it is working on a project to turn paper waste into a bio-plastic with Adapt Low Carbon Group at the University of East Anglia.

Network Waste is researching new applications for waste paper crumb

The company, which produces 7,000 tonnes of damp paper crumb waste per year at its mill, is researching how the material can be applied in the commercial bio-based production of chemicals.

One of the possibilities currently being explored is to turn paper waste into feedstock to be applied in the bio-based production of molecules, which are the building blocks for bio-plastics.

The paper crumb waste is currently spread on land, but it is an energy-intensive process which requires removal of large amounts of water.

Network Waste national account manager, Stuart Towler, said: “We are a business which is always trying to find practical solutions for our customers in waste management and we are always looking for something innovative.

“We recognise that working with Adapt allows us to tap into cutting edge academic research. This is an option that very few businesses in the waste management world have and we believe that the paper crumb project could be something special.”