Ukraine’s capital joins global Refill movement
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has joined the international Refill movement which aims to encourage Kyivans to refill reusable water bottles rather than buying water in single-use plastic bottles.
The free-to-download app was launched by the non-profit City to Sea and shows over 400 refill stations across Kyiv. It also shows places offering rewards for bringing reusable coffee cups and plastic-free stores where they can shop sustainably.
The project is being implemented by the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the Kyiv City State Administration together with the NGO LUN City.
Volodymyr Prokopiv, deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration for the Exercise of Self-Governance Powers said: “The Refill app allows you to find the nearest establishment where you can get free refills of drinking water if you bring your own reusable bottle, take coffee in your own reusable cup or food in a lunchbox. The app also shows city drinking water fountains where you can get drinking water.
“Today Kyiv joins the global Refill movement that has over 335,000 Refill Stations mapped all over the world. This is an important step for our city in the fight against plastic pollution.”
Islington invites school children to name food waste vehicle
Islington council has invited local school children to help name its new food waste recycling vehicle.
The school with the winning submission will receive a new micro-scooter as a prize and have the pride of seeing their chosen name emblazoned on the new vehicle.
The council aims to recycle 40% of all waste in the borough by 2030 and are running a campaign throughout September to change residents’ recycling behaviours.
The campaign will showcase the “amazing things” that residents can do when their food waste is recycled properly – from creating energy that can power homes, to making a fertiliser to help to maintain green spaces. It will involve knocking on the doors of over 4,000 properties.
Councillor Rowena Champion, executive member for environment, air quality and transport, said: “We’re excited to see the creativity of our young residents shine through in this competition. By naming our new food waste recycling vehicle, children can play a direct role in our collective efforts to make Islington a greener, healthier place to live.
“Whether it’s Binny McBinFace, or another brilliant suggestion – we want to hear your ideas! The best entrant will see their chosen name put on the vehicle and will win a shiny new scooter for their school.”
Schools can submit their submissions here.
HBP aims to improve efficiency and compliance with HaulTech
HBP Transport in Cumbria has said that it is hoping to save time and improve its compliance thanks to a new transport management system (TMS) provided by HaulTech.
Designed to meet the needs of independent hauliers, HaulTech said that its TMS can reduce administrative processes by up to 80%. It also helps haulage companies to control and cut operational costs.
Julie Cooper, transport administrator at HBP, said: “We had a tracking system but had found that it didn’t give us the information we needed in terms of reporting and compliance.
“We looked at a couple of providers and chose HaulTech because it could offer a full package – along with tracking and vehicle defects checks we got job planning right the way through from booking to invoicing.”
Based in Barrow-in-Furness, HBP runs 16 trucks and 24 vans. It holds an upper tier waste carrier’s licence for muck shifts and runs its own waste transfer station for inert spoils and construction materials. The haulier is currently investing in new HGVs.
Veolia recycles Wembley’s digital scoreboard
Veolia has recycled Wembley Stadium’s old digital scoreboard – with 94% of the materials being returned to industry for use in new products.
The process involved detaching the mounted board from the stands and safely lowering it to the ground using a small crane.
The individual components were then separated to allow Veolia to recycle critical raw materials. Glass and metals were recovered from the lighting inside the boards and were separated from the mercury and other hazardous materials.
The video panels were disassembled to recover other metals and plastics for grading, processing and repurposing.
The waste management company worked with scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics to find solutions to challenges such as transporting LED tiles safely, separating heavy silicone for recycling and steel segregation.
Veolia has been the stadium’s waste management partner since 2007.
Yorkshire pub reduces food waste with Keenan Recycling
Yorkshire-based pub The Station Inn has successfully reduced its food waste after contracting Keenan Recycling.
The pub, located near the Ribblehead Viaduct, implemented several of the recycling company’s suggestions including portion control and offering smaller plate options.
The pub said that diverting food waste from landfills has led to cost, emission and energy savings.
In the last year alone, Keenan saved 4.8 tonnes of CO2 for The Station Inn, reducing landfill waste and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Working with its Anaerobic Digestion (AD) partners, it generated renewable energy that is equivalent to fully charging 720 mobile phones daily for a year.
Andrew Gerlach, head of customer service at Keenan Recycling, said: “The Station Inn is a valued customer in the hospitality sector, and we’re committed to providing them with exceptional service. Our team is always available to assist with any needs or concerns, ensuring a positive and seamless experience.”
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