News in brief

DECC minister tours PlasRecycle plant

Based in Woolwich, the 10 milllion PlasRecycle plant opened in late 2013 with the capacity to reprocess 20,000 tonnes of used plastic films per year, producing a plastic granulate that can be used to produce new bags (see letsrecycle.com story).

PlasRecycle received financial support for the project via the Foresight Environmental Fund (FEF), and has benefited from the 50% household plastics target set by the EU Waste Framework Directive.

Commenting on the facility, Mr Davey said: PlasRecycle’s plant is certainly impressive and its pioneering technology means local authorities and businesses no longer have to export, landfill or incinerate their waste plastic bags but have this state of the art alternative.

Paul Levett, chairman of PlasRecycle, added: Our plant is open for business and we offer local authorities a real alternative to landfill for the plastic bags and other films that are used by their residents.

Nottinghamshire Recycling Ltd enters administration

Nottinghamshire Recycling Ltd has entered administration following four serious fires at its Worksop-based plant in the space of a year.

The firm, which offered skip hire and waste services in the local area, saw its environmental permit suspended in March due to the ongoing risk of serious pollution caused by fires at the site (see letsrecycle.com story).

Meanwhile, 21 out of the 29 staff employed by the firm at Worksop and its second site in Kiveton have been made redundant.

Speaking on behalf of appointed adminstrators Eddie Williams and Rob Hunt, a spokesperson said: The company went into administration on May 7, and we are currently in the process of contracting potential bidders for the business. At the moment we are not trading the business until further notice, although expression of interest in the business is high.

CPPL unveils plans for Corby EfW facility

Clean Power Properties Ltd has announced its intentions to develop an energy-from-waste plant in Corby, after receiving planning permission from Northamptonshire county council in February.

The Willowbrook East Industrial Estate plant which will convert up to 195,000 tonnes of residual and organic waste a year and produce 15MW of power for the local network, follows approval of CPPLs Washwood Heath site in Birmingham.

The firm is looking to secure and develop several sites across the UK, with the Corby plant due to be operational by 2016.

Harry Wyndham, managing director of RLand Energy Ltd, the company managing the project on behalf of CPPL, said: Its pleasing to see that the county council has recognised the benefits that our proposals can bring to the re-generation of the area where there is strong support for low carbon energy generation, providing energy for local people and businesses.

Andusia relocates to Hertfordshire

RDF exporter Andusia Recovered Fuels has moved office to Hertford, Hertfordshire as it continues to expand its business.

The move follows a series of contract wins for Andusia, after it successfully secured a 12 month supply of 25,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel to a plant in Laar, Germany, and a 50,000 per annum contract in Amsterdam with AEB.

In addition, Andusia has also extended its contract to supply 80,000 tonnes of feedstock to a combined heat and power plant in Gothenburg, Sweden for the second time from June 2014.

A company spokesperson said: Andusia Recovered Fuels is proud to announce the recent relocation and expansion of our office. We have decided to move to a larger office space to allow us to continue with our growing business.

Veolia: More women for STEM careers

Veolia Environmental Services has signed up to a government campaign which encourages more female students to follow science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career paths.

The Your Life initiative will see the waste management firm visit at least 20 universities across the UK by the end of 2014 to promote STEM careers.

It has also pledged to increase the percentage of women at all levels in its business through engaging with the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, the Women in Business Club at London Business School, and the Inspiring Women Campaign.

Estelle Brachlianoff, who serves as executive vice president of Veolia Environnment in the UK & Northern Europe, has previously called for more diversity in the waste sector (see letsrecycle.com story) and gave the campaign her full endorsement.

She said: This initiative is critically needed. Veolia employs 14,000 people in the UK and we are looking for more female STEM graduates to fill these roles. Women represent half the population and we need to get better at engaging them, particularly when they are making important choices about their career path.