News in Brief

Erewash borough council is extending its dry recycling collection service to include glass, plastic bottles and cans for 43,250 households.

The new vehicle's top loaded pod is being used by Erewash Borough Council for the collection of glass.

The council has taken delivery of four open back Duos, and has also introduced two further vehicles with a narrower chassis, to access restricted areas in mainly rural parts of the borough.

The council already collects paper and cardboard, and the new Duo vehicles will be deployed to collect this material as well as plastic and tins in the main compaction body, with glass being deposited in the Duo’s top loaded pod.

Erewash borough council is seeking to increase its recycling rate to 30% for 2005/06. It currently recycles 22% of its waste.

The Ideal Home Show is heading into the final week at Earls Court in London, with the Waste and Resources Action Programme reporting good interest for its “Recycled Living” home.

WRAP commissioned designer Oliver Heath to create a home made entirely from recycled materials.

WRAP commissioned designer Oliver Heath to create a home made entirely from recycled materials to show the possibilities for the home furnishings market. The display features kitchen cupboard doors made from recycled yoghurt pots and flooring that started life as tyres.

ITV1's This Morning, Blue Peter and the Daily Express have all showed interest in the “Recycled Living” home, WRAP has said.

Mr Heath said: “The Recycled Living home is proof that the yoghurt pots, drinks cans and jam jars we recycle today can be transformed into new and exciting materials that are stylish enough to satisfy the tastes of even the most discerning homeowners.

“I am sure people will be surprised by the home – to look at the finished space you would never believe that the items in there have been made from the things we often throw in our bins,” he added.

London Remade has claimed that London's Ecological footprint is more than twice the size of Great Britain, and is a huge drain on the natural environment.

The BedZed development in Beddington, South London, is one project attempting to promote sustainability in the capital

The claim was made in London Remade's latest report, Making London a Sustainable City- Reducing London's Ecological Footprint.

An “ecological footprint” represents the area, in global hectares, of productive land or sea needed to produce the resources consumed by society and absorb the waste generated. London's ecological footprint comprises 35.7% resource use, 23.6% food consumption, 19.5% direct energy consumption, 13.9% personal transport and 7.2% other consumption.

Daniel Silverstone, chief executive at London Remade, said: “London's consumption clearly outstrips its share of natural resources and this points to major problems and constraints for its future. So the question is, what are we going to do about it?

“We are not asking the people of London to grow their own carrots, or return to subsistence farming. We are asking government and business to lead the way by suggesting practical ways of organisations, industry and individuals to help improve the sustainability of London,” he added.

Waste Awareness Wales has announced the appointment of Anna Richards as its new manager.

Ms Richards joins the national waste campaign from Corus Steel Packaging Recycling, where she was head of the communications team. She worked with a network of regional development representatives across the UK to support communications and infrastructure improvements in waste management.

Anna Richards

Ms Richard has previously worked in community relations and for a Cardiff advertising agency. She also sits on the Waste Awareness Wales steering group, established to progress the development of the national media campaign and the supporting communications programme.

Commenting on Ms Richard's appointment, Councillor Richard Parry Hughes, chairman for Waste Awareness Wales, said: “Anna is well known within the waste and recycling sector and I am thrilled to be able to announce her appointment as manager.

“Her experience will be invaluable in managing what is an extremely fast-paced period for Waste Awareness Wales. Her knowledge and skill will also be key in assisting local authorities as they work to meet the national recycling target of 40% by 2010,” he added.

Severnside Recycling, or at least the company’s strong Welsh contingent, were celebrating the success of the prinicipality’s rugby team at the weekend with the achievement of the Grand Slam for the first time in 27 years.

The Severnside gathering ahead of Saturday’s Grand Slam victory for Wales

Severnside, which provides recycling and a range of facility management services, took a party to the Wales – Ireland match which was won by 32-30 and followed earlier Six Nations championship successes over England, Italy, France and Scotland.
Pictured are the Severnside representatives with guests who attended the event.

Managing director Peter McGuinness said: “It was a truly fabulous day and a marvellous result. The atmosphere in the stadium was unforgettable and it was great to see the celebrations continuing across Wales.”