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News in brief (16/02/22)

With news on: Leeds approves £7.2m district heating extension; MRWA offers £165,000 to make Liverpool ‘cleaner and greener’; Global Recycling Foundation to recognise ‘recycling heroes’; and, Axil doubles revenue in 2021.


Leeds approves £7.2m district heating extension

Leeds city council has approved plans to invest £7.2 million to extend the city’s flagship district heating network by 2,500 metres.

The £47 million Leeds PIPES network supplied 13,900 MWh of low carbon heat in 2021, the council says.

The Leeds PIPES district heating network (click to enlarge) (picture: Leeds city council)

The network currently uses heat and energy recovered from the non-recyclable waste of approximately 10,700 Leeds households at Veolia’s Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility.

Five extensions will see the Leeds PIPES district heating network expand into new areas of the city between 2023 and 2026, the council says.

It says it has identified at least nine sites that will be able to connect because of the approved extensions, potentially using another 11,600 MWh of heat every year.

Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds city council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “Our city’s waste-powered district heating network is a great example of an innovative scheme that supports our long-term net zero carbon ambitions whilst enabling residents and businesses to enjoy reliable and affordable heating now.

“Economically, the planned expansion is also a fantastic investment for the council as well as those privately connecting.”

Almost 2,000 homes and commercial and public buildings are already connected to Leeds’s scheme.


MRWA offers £165,000 to make Liverpool ‘cleaner and greener’

The Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA) has offered community groups a share of a £165,000 fund to help make the Liverpool City region a “cleaner and greener” place.

Successful applicants can win up to £30,000 for schemes which operate across all six districts in Merseyside and Halton, and between £1,000 and £8,000 for projects which work solely at one local authority level.

The MRWA is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside

Bids must tackle one or more of four priority household waste materials: food, plastics, textiles, and furniture.

Cllr Tony Concepcion is chair of the MRWA, which is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside.

He said: “We know that there are a lot of communities concerned about climate change and sustainable living.

“Giving groups the opportunity to get involved in looking after their environment can only bring benefits to all and can help us appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which otherwise might be just thrown away.”

The money comes from the MRWA and Veolia Community Fund 2022/23, which has run annually since 2006.

Successful projects should receive the funding by mid-May 2022, the MRWA says, and will have 10 months to deliver their schemes. The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on 20 March.


Global Recycling Foundation to recognise ‘recycling heroes’

The closing date for entries to the Global Recycling Foundation’s #RecyclingHeroes competition is fast approaching.

On 18 March, cities and organisations all over the world will participate in Global Recycling Day, an annual initiative which raises awareness about how waste can be turned into a valuable resource.

Ranjit Baxi is founding president of the Global Recycling Foundation

As part of the festivities, the #RecyclingHeroes competition asks for people to nominate individuals, businesses, and communities who have taken “exceptional strides” with their innovative recycling initiatives.

There is $1,000 in prize money for each of the 10 winners.

Ranjit Baxi, founding president of the Global Recycling Foundation, said: “The purpose of this competition is to promote the crucial role of recycling to combat increasing threats to the environment and to showcase just what each and every individual and organisation can do themselves to make a vital difference, even in times of great difficulty as we battle with Covid-19.”

To enter the competition, send nominations to info@globalrecyclingfoundation.org and include the nominee’s name, address, telephone number, and email address.

Entries must also include reasons for the nomination and the date the business or activity started. The closing date for entries is 8 March.


Axil doubles revenue in 2021

Corby-based waste management company Axil Integrated Services says its revenues doubled from £11 million to £22 million in 2021.

And, the company says it began the year with a celebration as it hired its 100th employee.

Axil Integrated Services’ revenues doubled from £11 million to £22 million in 2021

Ed Pigg, managing director at Axil, said: “We’re delighted with the growth in our business. The environmental aspect within ESG is becoming a priority for many businesses.”

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that investors use to screen potential investments.

Axil offers waste management services to a range of industries, including the aerospace, automotive, food, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors.

The company says it “supported” the rollout of rapid testing by providing waste services to several Covid-19 testing sites across the UK.

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