Defra further delays local authority data
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a further delay to the publication of local authority collected waste data.
The figures are now due to be published “between March and April”, after a previous commitment to have them published between “February and March”.
The statistics on all the household, non-household and commercial waste collected by local authorities in England are typically released in December. The awaited data covers the period between April 2021 and March 2022.
In November, a Defra spokesperson told letsrecycle.com that “the publication of the local authority annual statistics for 2021/22 has been rescheduled around other priorities” (see letsrecycle.com story).
BIR issues quarterly plastics report
2023 has so far seen a slight increase in demand for raw materials as well as changes to the EU waste shipment regulation, chairman of the Bureau of International Recycling’s (BIR) plastics committee reflects.
Henk Alssema noted that January saw a slight improvement in demand for secondary raw materials following the steep drop at the end of last year. He explained that the “plummeting” demand then resulted in falling prices, with PP taking the biggest hit.
At present, it is still difficult to work out which way the market is going, with the threat of a possible recession still looming over it, Mr Alssema continued.
On another note, Mr Alssema said that the EU passed the proposal to amend the legislation on waste shipments in January. The export ban to non-OECD countries is likely to come into force three years after the EU waste shipment regulation review becomes effective, Mr Alssema added, quoting the European Parliament.
“Compared to last year, our industry has noted a significant drop in energy prices although inflation continues to be an issue despite a downward trend,” Mr Alssema concluded.
Turmec wins contract for waste processing system
Solutions provider Turmec has announced it has been awarded a contract to install a waste processing system for Ireland-based Wilton Recycling.
Turmec said that the system will process commercial and demolition (C&D) and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste at Wilton Recycling’s Corranure facility in Ireland.
According to Turmec, the project is set to recover high value recyclates for sale to recyclers, with the residual material, such as that which is not economically viable to recover, being processed into fuel for supply to industry such as cement manufacturers.
The design phase of the project is underway with installation commencement set for mid 2023 and handover of the completed project before the end of the year, Turmec explained.
Commenting on the partnership, Rodney Wilton from Wilton Recycling, said: “Turmec has been a key and supportive partner on our journey, and this facility will provide us with market leading processing and recycling capabilities that will recover high value commodities for recycling.”
Turmec CEO, Geoff Bailey, added: “Turmec is delighted to continue its long-term partnership with Wilton Recycling and supporting them realise their vision for the Corranure facility.”
Angela Rayner visits Enva wood recycling facility
Waste management company Enva has said it welcomed the deputy leader of the Labour Party and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Angela Rayner, to its manufacturing facility in Droylsden, Greater Manchester.
Enva said that the visit included a tour of the company’s poultry bedding biosecure manufacturing facility, during which the management team discussed a range of issues with Mrs Rayner.
These included the vital role biosecure bedding has to play in the battle against avian flu and the importance of ensuring waste wood is included in the new UK biomass strategy, the firm noted.
Commenting on the visit, Enva Wood’s managing director, Tim Price, said: “I’d like to thank Mrs Rayner for taking the time to visit Enva and taking such an interest in the UK wood recycling and biomass market.
We are at a critical crossroads for the UK biomass market. We must ensure the continued fiscal support for waste wood when the UK biomass strategy is published. Its omission would result in us losing the environmental value of this material when used to generate sustainable energy.”
MetroSTOR to run a webinar on flats recycling
Urban street scene products manufacturer metroSTOR has announced it is to run a webinar next week (22 February) with a focus on increasing recycling in flats.
The company said that the webinar will see Liz Horsfield, ReLondon’s strategic advisor, share insights into the flats recycling project and toolkit.
MetroSTOR highlighted that purpose-built flats can make up as much as 80% of all households in some inner-city boroughs. It noted that the effective capture of recycling from communal areas is a challenge but a “key component” for reducing waste and emissions.
MetroSTOR listed some of the reasons that make recycling in flats “notoriously difficult”, including lack of space within flats, higher levels of deprivation and transience and poor access to communal recycling facilities.
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