‘MetalMatters’ campaign rolls out across West Devon
West Devon council will step up its efforts to increase the recycling of metals, by signing up to a campaign with MetalMatters.
MetalMatters is supported by a number of industry bodies, manufacturers, retailers and compliance schemes, including Beverage Can Makers Europe, Cofresco, Marks and Spencer, Ardagh Group and Novelis.
The campaign in West Devon will see more than 26,000 homes receive a leaflet on how best to recycle used metal packaging.
Cllr Mandy Ewings, leader of West Devon borough council, added: “Many residents are already committed to recycling and reducing waste, which is great news, but we can do more. It’s worth remembering that every aluminium can you recycle saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours – so putting your metal packaging into your recycling container can make a big difference.”
Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, concluded: “For more than a decade, our MetalMatters programme has been educating the public about the benefits and importance of recycling metal packaging. We’re confident that the introduction of this campaign will help to drive an increase in recycling rates and households taking positive action across West Devon.”
Suspended sentence for man who ran waste site in Loughbrickland
The Northern Irish environmental regulator, Daera, has announced that it has secured an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for three years, against a man who ran a waste site in Loughbrickland, County Down.
A statement from Daera explained that Stephen Donald, 54, was found guilty at Newry crown court for the unauthorised deposit, keeping, and treating of controlled waste at two sites at Meenan Road, Loughbrickland and Station Road, Jonesborough.
The site at Meenan Road was inspected on various occasions between 2017 and 2019 by officers of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
The statement explained that on 27 March 2019, NIEA officers carried out a full intrusive survey. The survey uncovered large quantities of controlled waste consisting of waste compost contaminated with plastics, mushroom compost, chicken manure, construction and demolition and general household waste.
The site at Station Road was inspected on various occasions between 2018 and 2020 by officers of the NIEA. During these inspections NIEA officers identified the presence of controlled waste consisting of mushroom compost, compost waste mixed with plastics and chicken litter waste.
There were no waste management authorisations in place to allow controlled waste to be deposited, kept, treated or disposed of on the site, the statement added.
The NIEA issued Mr Donald with a formal notice to remove the controlled waste, from both sites however he failed to comply, and the waste remains on site.
The NIEA were awarded a total of £2,853.76 in court costs.
Sunderland reuse shop saves 100 tonnes of waste in first year
A reuse shop at Sunderland’s Pallion household waste and recycling centre, run in partnship with Suez, has saved more than 100 tonnes of household items from going to waste in its first year.
Among the 135,000 plus items which would otherwise have been burned to produce electricity were 3,076 pairs of shoes, 14,898 books, 724 lamps, 393 jigsaws, 3700 CDs and 886 women’s jumpers.
The shop is operated by the St Vincent De Paul Society for England & Wales, with all the proceeds going towards the charity’s work to tackle poverty and help some of the most vulnerable people in society through their person-to-person support. This includes a befriending service, debt advice and the provision of emergency food parcels.
Councillor Claire Rowntree, deputy leader and cabinet member for clean, green city at Sunderland city council, said: “The reuse shop has been a fantastic addition to the facilities on offer at Pallion HWRC since it opened last year.
“We know how important the environment is for our residents, so ventures like this are a key part of our ongoing drive to make Sunderland a clean green city.
“It’s brilliant to see the shop becoming so popular, and so many shoes, books and items that people no longer have a use for being recycled and resold at affordable prices to take on a new lease of life in a new home.”
Reconomy names COO of Combineering
Reconomy has announced the appointment of Henrik Mørch as chief operating officer at Combineering, the Danish tech firm it acquired last year.
Combineering is a Denmark-based green tech company. On its website, the company says it is a “green tech development company that promotes the circular economy”.
In his new role, Henrik will work with Combineering’s “highly experienced leadership team to help more businesses transform huge amounts of waste into an infinite resource”.
Mike Benton, head of Reconomy’s recycle loop, said: “Henrik will bring vast industry experience to Combineering’s operations along with a passion for sustainability that aligns with our values.”
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