News In Brief

Pera Innovation has been awarded a 154,000 grant to investigate the use of waste plastics in a high-pressure engineering application.

The grant for the one year research project comes from the Onyx Environmental Trust through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.

Pera Innovation, a research and development company, will be jointly undertaking the project with the University of Newcastle. It plans to investigate the reuse of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and tape to overwrap existing low pressure water pipes to produces a cost effective high-pressure, high-value reinforced thermoplastic pipe.

The PET will come from low value plastic bottles and packaging and will be treated before being used in the project.

Margaret Cobbold, general manager of the Onyx Environmental Trust, said: “Research into recycling everyday materials for use as workable products within industry is critical in order to meet long term environmental objectives. Pera's innovative approach to identifying affordable products via this route will benefit many aspects of the UK's business community. This research project provides a valuable example of the benefits of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.”

Canary Wharf holds successful Green Canary Day

Canary Wharf held its second Green Canary Day to encourage greener working places, focusing on the themes of recycling and ecology.

The London business area played host to 20 exhibitors including organisations involved in energy efficiency, community involvement and social responsibility as well as recycling and waste management. Recycling companies represented at the event included London Remade, the recycled stationary company Remarkable and the lamp recyclers Lampcare (UK).

Tony Partington, managing director of Canary Wharf Management, said: “Since the inception of the Canary Wharf development, we sought to achieve high levels of performance in these areas. Green Canary Day is an opportunity for us to share information and ideas for people – whether individually or as part of a company – to get involved in helping create a more environmentally sustainable way of living and working.”

Canary Wharf already runs a number of recycling schemes for materials including glass, paper and fluorescent light bulbs.

Southend and Cory partnership results in increased recycling

Southend-on-sea borough council has achieved a 67% increase in its recycling in the three years since introducing its pink sack scheme.

Starting in September 2001, the kerbside pink sack scheme is now used by 70% of households in the borough and is operated by the council's contractor Cory Environmental. In 2000 the council collected 3,450 tonnes of recyclables but in 2003 this figure had risen to 5,750 tonnes.

The weekly scheme provides 26 pink bags every six months to residents but Cory has had to order extra bags in order to meet the high demand by residents.

Emma Ricketts, partnership recycling officer, said: “Southend has many keen recyclers, who report that one sack a week is not enough. Demand is obviously high for the service. Therefore we need to give residents every opportunity we can to take advantage of our home collection scheme.”

The pink bag scheme collects plastic bottles, textiles, cans, newsprint and cardboard which are taken to Cory's materials reclamation facility in Southend.