News in Brief

FEAD – the European Federation of Waste Management and Environment Services – is holding its annual conference in Budapest, Hungary, this year.

FEAD's annual conference will take place at the Thermal Hotel Margitsziget, Budapest

The conference is themed “Waste Management Legislation in the Extended Europe: Transformation and Implementation”, and will take place on September 30. It is being hosted by Hungary's association of environmental enterprises, KSZGYSZ, and held at the Thermal Hotel Margitsziget.

FEAD, which includes the UK's Environmental Services Association as a member, will discuss issues at the conference including waste shipment regulations, waste and emissions trading and forthcoming European Thematic Strategies on recycling.

The keynote speech will be made by Dr Miklos Persanyi, the Hungarian minister for the environment and water.

International Paper (UK) managing director David Steel has been elected chairman of the Confederation of Paper Industries Papermaking Sector Body.

Mr Steele, who has 11 years' experience in the industry, takes over from Don Coats, chief executive of St Regis Paper.

Before joining International Paper as human resources manager in 1996, Mr Steele worked as HR officer with Tullis Russell in Markinch. He was appointed joint MD (Manufacturing) at International Paper in 2000, and MD the following year.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Steele said: “I am extremely pleased and honoured to be offered this role and very much look forward to tackling the challenges the sector faces during the next two years.

Surrey's new guide gives tips on sustainable shopping

Surrey county council is offering shoppers in the county free cotton re-usable bags as well as a “Sustainable Shopping Guide” to help them reduce the amount of waste they produce.

As part of this week's Big Recycle campaign, the council is also distributing free household waste guides to explain every aspect of household waste, from collection to disposal.

The awareness activities come under the banner of the council's ongoing awareness campaign, “It's about time”, which was launched in March.

David Munro, Surrey's executive member for the environment, said: “We are all responsible for creating waste and therefore can all play a part in reducing it.”

European Metal Recycling's managing director, Colin Iles, has been appointed president of the Bureau of International Recycling Ferrous Division.

Mr Iles, who takes over from Robert Philip of Hugo Neu Schnitzer Global Trade, said he was honoured to accept the role.

He said: “There are some major challenges facing metal recyclers at the moment, particularly with the growing burden of legislation. The BIR Ferrous Division is determined to keep pushing for positive change.”

The Ferrous Division is currently working to reduce the burden of customs and environmental barriers in countries such as China and Russia. This aims to encourage the exchange of market information to help the Bureau's members to better forecast market trends and to liaise with the European Association of Ferrous Recycling (EFR) on legislative issues, it said.