Skip hire company sentenced after worker injured
Dartford-based Skip hire company Easy Load Ltd and its managing director have been sentenced after a worker was seriously injured in a transport incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
According to a statement from the HSE, Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard that on 14 December 2018, an employee was crossing the yard on Old Rochester Way, Dartford, while waiting for a lorry to be re-loaded with processed waste.
He was then hit by a 21-tonne loading shovel which was reversing around a blind bend in the yard.
The HSE reported that the employee suffered “life changing injuries, from which he is still recovering”, and is unable to return to work.
The HSE says its investigation found the company and its managing director had “failed to take reasonable steps” to ensure that there was “adequate pedestrian segregation” in the waste processing yard so that both pedestrians and vehicles could circulate safely.
Easy Load Ltd of Lee’s Yard, Old Rochester Way, Dartford pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) by virtue of Regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,454.20.
Tomas J Lee, Managing Director of Easy Load Ltd, of Chislehurst, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £549.40.costs.
Recolight finds 83% of luminaries can be recycled
Recolight has conducted analysis where it found that over 83% of luminaires can be recycled.
To perform the analysis, Recolight contracted Kent-based WEEE recycler, SWEEEP Kuusakoski, to treat a mixed sample of 3 tonnes of luminaires to establish the recycling and recovery rate of the materials.
Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey commented: “It was encouraging to learn that 83% of material recovered from our sample of 3 tonnes could be recycled. But it is disappointing that over 14%, the plastic content, didn’t make the grade, and was sent for waste to energy; a process that produces carbon emissions.”
“It is however pleasing to note that only 2% went to landfill because it was neither recyclable nor could be used to create energy.”
Wales reflects on Climate Change report
The Welsh Government has reported that 84% of its citizens would like to see less food waste, less packaging and increased recycling.
It added that 81% reported to be already minimising their food waste or were likely to do so.
While 86% admitted they are concerned about climate change, only 15% of respondents thought that it would affect their local area “a great deal”. Following the publication of the report however, nearly half of participants (42%) did recognise that climate change could impact their local area “to some extent”.
The minister for climate change Julie James said: “In Wales we look out for each other, so I have no doubt in our ability to unite in big and bold actions to fight the climate emergency. Reaching net zero by 2050 will require decisive action over the next ten years, meaning government, businesses and communities coming together to change the way we eat, shop, travel and heat our homes.
“Whilst there will be up-front costs in taking action, the long-term financial and wellbeing costs of doing nothing will be significantly higher. We know climate change will impact all of our communities, with floods in Wales predicted to become even more frequent and drastic than the last two years we have experienced.”
Defra unveils compliance fee guide
Defra has invited interested parties to submit a proposal for the compliance fee methodology for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
The compliance fee is used by compliance schemes and obligated business if they have insufficient recycling evidence to meet their collection targets.
Targets are usually met through acquiring evidence of recycling for material collected at civic amenity sites.
Each year, Defra approves one compliance fee methodology and the administrator to run it for one compliance year only.
Last year it was run by the Joint Trade Association.
This guidance explains the 6 areas to cover in proposals and how it will then be evaluated.
Applicants can propose a methodology and an organisation to run it by 30 September.
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