Plastics recycling communications pack launched
Pledge 4 Plastics, the plastics-industry led recycling communications campagin and Recycle Now have worked in partnership to produce a new consumer communications resource pack.
The resource pack promotes a consistent set of messages and visuals for plastics recycling communications in the UK and replaces the ‘Pledge 4 Plastics Communications Toolkit’.
The aim of the project is to support local authorities and businesses in providing relevant resources needed when running a successful consumer communications campaign on plastics recycling. Communication materials available include digital resources, posters, leaflets and videos and are able to be customised.
Claire Shrewsbury, packaging programme manager at WRAP commented: “It’s great to see that all the resources required to run a successful plastics recycling campaign can now be found in one place – facts, stats and materials are available for free so we encourage local authorities and businesses to download and start using them.”
Pledge 4 Plastics is a national plastics recycling initiative led by plastics recycling body Recoup, with partners including WRAP and Nestle UK. Its aim is to boost plastic recycling through messages promoting real behavioural change.
Recycle Now is a campaign by circular economy and resource efficiency charity WRAP to encourage people in England to recycle more.
The pack can be downloaded from the Pledge 4 Plastics and Recycle Now websites.
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42% of councils charge for garden waste collection
Research carried out by gardening retailer Mantis suggests that 42% of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales will charge an annual fee for kerbside garden waste collection in 2016.
According to the retailer, 157 out of 378 local authorities, will levy some form of annual fee for the kerbside collection of material.
And, the research also suggests that where charges have been implemented, the current average fee is £41.22, with Harlow district council charging the highest service rate of £96.
David Goose, Managing Director at Mantis, said: “Our findings show that garden waste collection charges are now commonplace.
“We just hope that this encourages more people to compost at home, rather than drive out to recycling sites, send organic waste to landfill, or even resort to fly-tipping.”
Local authorities have a legal obligation to collect general refuse but do not have to offer a free garden waste collection service.
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Foresight announces £3.5 million AD investment
Foresight Group is to invest £3.5 million for the construction of an on-farm anaerobic digestion plant on the Mapledurham Estate, near Reading in Berkshire.
The transaction reached financial close on 31 March 2016, and is the seventh on-farm AD project in the UK backed by the independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager. The 499kW AD plant is expected to be commissioned and operational by October 2016.
When operational, it will process around 17,500 tonnes per annum of feedstock from the two thousand acres of farm and woodland, generating 3,600 MWh of renewable electricity per annum – enough to power around 880 homes.
Beth Watkins of Foresight said: “We are delighted to announce completion of this investment and our first project with BTS Biogas as construction and maintenance services contractor.
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FCC rolls out new Harborough waste fleet
FCC Environment Services (UK) Ltd has introduced 13 new recycling and waste vehicles into its Harborough district collections fleet.
Last year, the recycling and waste contractor was awarded a seven-year extension to its contract by Harborough district council including recycling and waste, grounds maintenance and street cleansing.
The new Dennis Eagle vehicles will offer lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption, real time in-cab technology, as well as featuring 360 degree cameras for improved safety.
To reflect the district’s heritage, each lorry will be given an individual name relating to historic aircrafts that have been based at Bruntingthorpe Aerospace – Vulcan, Comet and Harrier are some of the names given.
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Alpha Resource Management invest in local communities
Alpha Resource Management has announced further investment into Northern Irish communities through its Landfill Tax Credit funded ‘Alpha Programme’.
The latest announcement by the waste management company sees a £347,000 investment of funding towards eight groups as part of the Programme, totalling an overall investment of over £3.3 million since its launch in 2008.
The Lagan Group Company is funding projects to enhance areas within a 10 mile radius of its landfill sites through social or environment regeneration.
Projects to benefit from the latest raft of funding include:
- Ormeau Boxing Club – £49,587.15 (South Belfast)
- Work West – £50,000 (West Belfast)
- National Trust – £35,154 (Lagan Valley)
- North Belfast Women’s Initiative & Support Project – £28,640 (North Belfast)
- RSPB – £35,000 (Lagan Valley)
- HUBB CRC -£47,747.30 (North Belfast)
- North Lisburn Community Investment – £50,000 (Lisburn)
- Gort Na Mona GAC – £50,000
Managing director, Mark Kelly from the Lagan Group said: “We recognised the importance of building effective programme for the distribution of Landfill Tax credits near our Mullaghglass site.
“We ensure that funding is distributed to a variety of projects- all of which make a real difference to the surrounding community or improve local wildlife and beauty spots.
“The latest announcement of £347,000 to another eight groups is a testament to the success of the Alpha Programme and how it can continue to make a positive contribution to local communities.”
Through the landfill tax credit scheme, operators of landfill sites can contribute money to projects that meet the environmental objects outlined in the landfill tax regulations.
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