Nottinghamshire to review recycling facilities
Nottinghamshire county council this week approved a strategic review of its network of household waste recycling centre (HWRCs) to ensure it meets the “increasing needs” of the county’s growing population.
Site access, facilities, and capacity at each of the county’s 12 HWRCs will be assessed as part of the review to highlight any potential opportunities for improvement.
The council expects the review to take three months to complete, with a report outlining recommendations and next steps due before the summer recess.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, chairman of the transport and environment committee at the council, said: “By carrying out this review we will be able to identify whether our recycling facilities are in the best possible locations with enough capacity to serve residents, especially in light of the new communities that are emerging across the county.
“It will also show us how we can enhance the existing high-quality service to help us to meet any obligations arising from the new Environment Act and also achieve our own ambitions to be carbon neutral in all our activities by 2030.”
During 2019/20, the council’s 12 HWRCs collected 87,000 tonnes of waste, of which approximately 80% was sent for recycling or composting.
Buckinghamshire awards HWRC contract to FCC
Buckinghamshire Council has awarded FCC Recycling (UK) a new contract to manage and operate its nine HWRCs, with the waste management company having run the facilities for the past nine years.
The contract is due to start on 1 April 2022 and run for five years, with the option to extend it by a further five years.
Steve Longdon, FCC operations director, said: “We have operated the facilities in Buckinghamshire since 2012 and we have worked hard during this time to deliver an exceptional service, so we are delighted to have been awarded the new contract to provide the management and operation of the nine household recycling centres.”
The deal is worth £15 million over five years, rising to £28.5 million over 10 years if the contract is extended.
Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “With over a million visits a year, we know that our household recycling centres are very important to Buckinghamshire residents.
“This new contract will continue to encourage everyone to recycle and reuse more, building on our current success with FCC and providing continuity as the new contract begins.”
Mansfield draws up Omicron contingency plans
Mansfield district council has drawn up contingency measures as Covid-19 infections continue to have an impact on services.
The council says the collection of waste is one of the greatest challenges, and as such it is prioritising emptying green general waste and blue recycling domestic bins.
Glass collections have been suspended due to Covid-19 cases among the waste and recycling crews, leaving a shortage of HGV drivers.
To help catch up on missed collections, the council is offering staff overtime to deliver extra bin rounds once operatives are able to return to work.
It is also using agency staff and redeploying staff from other council services “where possible” to work with bin crews.
Andy Abrahams, Mansfield’s executive mayor, said: “Like many businesses and authorities across the country, the council has been feeling the effects of the current upsurge in Covid cases.
“Our biggest challenges lie with the front line in neighbourhood services including waste and recycling, street cleansing, and the crematorium.”
Anthesis acquires Canadian consultancy Provision Coalition Inc.
Independent consultancy Anthesis announced yesterday (6 January) that it had acquired Provision Coalition Inc., a Canadian-based consultancy focused on sustainability in the agri-food sector.
Anthesis says the acquisition is an “important part” of its growth strategy, following “significant” minority investment from Palatine Private Equity in March 2021 and building on its growing operations in North America and the food sector.
Founded as an industry-led non-profit in 2013, Provision Coalition Inc. is a team of eight food and beverage industry sustainability experts based in Guelph, Ontario.
Anthesis says the firm supports food and beverage companies with a “holistic approach” to sustainability.
Stuart McLachlan, CEO of the Anthesis Group, said: “This strategic move highlights our commitment to the North American region and our determination to drive change through social awareness and education in one of the world’s largest industries.”
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