Nottingham clinical waste recycled under new contract
Medical Waste Solutions (MWS) has said it can recycle 90% of the clinical waste stream through its three-stage system. It works by sterilising and then shredding the waste to produce a denser material, which is then used to manufacture rigid plastics for example for pallets and shuttering. MWS is backed by funding from NorthStar Equity Investors and hopes to build its first plant next year.
MWS managing director Charles Everson said: “We're producing for the first time, commercially usable products from waste that was previously landfilled, incinerated and generally regarded as too difficult to recycle. It's a non-burn technology, so carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions are considerably cut.”
Reading residents invited to trial home food digesters
Reading borough council is asking 2,000 residents in the east and west of the town to pilot Green Cone food digesters for six months.
The equipment traps solar power an enclosed chamber to heat food waste, including meat and bones, to temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius and uses micro-organisms to break it down into water and carbon dioxide.
Councillor Steve Waite, Reading's environmental services leader, said: “We already advise people on the best ways to dispose of waste food – wrapping it up in newspaper and then tying it up in plastic bags so it doesn't start to smell in the dustbin. The green cones would be a quicker, more efficient and much more environmentally friendly way of disposing of waste food.”
Covent Garden reduces waste with help from London Remade
The Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), a business association covering 250 companies, signed up to London Remade's Enhance business support programme and received a detailed waste audit carried out over four days, with the aim of seeing where waste sent to landfill could be reduced.
CGMA chief executive Jan Lloyd said: “We currently recycle 29% of our waste, including cardboard, plastics, wooden pallets and organics. We saw an opportunity to recycle more, particularly our organic waste, which is the largest proportion. The Enhance programme is helping us plan for our aim to send zero waste to landfill.”
Gateshead council recycles lights in compliance with WEEE Directive
Gateshead council has started a new scheme with the aim of recycling 4,000 redundant lights and replace them with more energy-efficient units – believed to be one of the first councils to recycle its own lights under the WEEE Directive.
Around 250 fluorescent tubes have so far been removed and dumped in a skip provided free-of-charge by Lumicom, who operate a lighting recycling scheme on behalf of the lighting trade.
Peter Udall, Head of Design for Gateshead Council, said: “Collection and recycling of the redundant light fittings was a simple matter of registering on the Lumicom website and, within a few days, a free collection skip was delivered to Gateshead Civic Centre. This is now being filled with the redundant lighting units which are destined for separation into the correct recycling channels by Lumicom's appointed recycler.”
Welsh youngsters learn about recycling from mascot Rhys Cycle
The members of Y Goleudy Kidz, aged between six and 12, watched a film on recycling and made presentations on recycling waste as well as learning about recycling in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The council collects paper and cardboard, cans, foil, glass, garden waste, plastic bottles and Tetrapak cartons at kerbside. It has also begun to roll out food waste collections (see letsrecycle.com story).
Councillor Ann Crimmings of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's said: “Children are always excited by a visit of Rhys to their school or community club and I'm delighted to see that the clear message of the importance of recycling waste in the county borough is getting through.”
Subscribe for free