News in brief

Paper recyclers UPM Shotton have brought a new team member in from computer company Fujitsu to work as its new recovered paper purchasing manager.

Mark Crowley joins the team following seven years at Fujitsu, which included working towards the requirements for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Commenting on the move, Mr Crowley said: “UPM Shotton is a leader in its field and I am very pleased to have joined the team. I have a strong background and contacts within the waste management industry and was interested in the new and exciting opportunities presented by UPM.”

Mr Crowley will help with UPM's new “100% project” under which the company plans to eventually make the move to 100% recycled paper.

Waste professionals have identified the planning system as the major stumbling block to achieving effective waste management.

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management survey comes as Defra released new guidance to help with planning last week (see letsrecycle.com story).

Presented with a range of issues affecting the sector, 43% of respondents in the survey cited planning and public perceptions together as the major barriers currently to effective waste management.

Respondents were also very pessimistic with regards to the outlook for planning. Only 5% or respondents saw any reason to be optimistic for the future.

South Gloucestershire county council has opened a new civic amenity site in the town of Thornbury.

The new “Sort It” centre, which is located at the Thornbury Industrial Estate, is the fourth CA site now available to the residents of the area.

All household waste will be accepted at the site, which is the third facility completed by SITA South Gloucestershire through a 25 year integrated waste management contract.

The new centre was designed and built by SITA at a cost of over 600,000 as part of a programme of improvements to household waste services in South Gloucestershire,

South Gloucestershire councillor, Shirley Potts, executive member for communities, said: “The council is committed to recycling and we expect to raise out landfill diversion rate to more than 40% this year.”

Weighing equipment specialists PM Onboard Ltd has announced further growth through the acquisition of Bradford-based electrical engineering company Pitts Wilson.

With regional operating centres in Peterborough, Rochester and Stirling employing one hundred and forty electrical engineers, Pitt Wilson will bring a substantial pool of highly skilled engineers into the PM Group – the company said.

Commenting on the take-over PM's chief executive, Geoff Mountain, said: “This deal will greatly improve our ability to meet the increasing demand particularly for our BinWeigh 02 system and will further strengthen our position as leader in the waste and recycling market.”