Amec Foster Wheeler to help draft London route map
Consultancy firm Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by the London Waste & Recycling Board (LWARB) to provide technical support for the development of a new Circular Economy Route Map for London.
According to LWARB the route map reflects the Mayor of London’s ambition that the capital becomes a ‘world leader’ in implementing an overarching strategy for the circular economy. The Route Map will identify how this can be done focusing on identifying partners, actions, opportunities and challenges to implementing a circular economy in London.
It is hoped that the route rap will inform economic, environmental, and social policy development in the city, with an initial focus on five key areas: the built environment, food, textiles, electricals and plastics.
Rob Brown, managing director of Amec Foster Wheeler’s environment and infrastructure business in Europe, said: “The circular economy is important for London’s future. Our multi-disciplinary team of economists and resource efficiency experts will provide LWARB with the benefit of our cross-sectoral experience in this area, helping London achieve its ambitions to be a global front-runner in the development of the circular economy.”
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Buckinghamshire acts over residual contamination
Buckinghamshire county council has launched a campaign to highlight the level of recyclable waste that is currently being thrown away by residents in residual waste bins, which is not suitable for incineration.
The campaign has been launched following the opening of the Greatmoor energy from waste facility, run by FCC, which will treat residual waste from the county as part of a 30-year contract between the council and the waste contractor.
Buckinghamshire council has highlighted in particular an increase in the volume of glass being thrown away alongside other residual waste in the build up to Christmas.
Councillor Warren Whyte, the council’s cabinet member for planning and the environment, said: “The difficulty will be that certain types of waste will simply not be able to go in to the EfW plant and be incinerated. There are several reasons for this – for instance some waste can be recycled or disposed of at one of our Household Waste Recycling centres.
“But, if put in a waste bin, it can cause damage to the plant or it could be potentially polluting – or is simply not combustible. Therefore such items will be considered as contamination and have to be removed and treated in a different way which will be very disruptive and expensive once it reaches Greatmoor or a waste transfer station.”
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South Northamptonshire to deliver WRAP food waste project
South Northamptonshire council has been awarded £30,000 by WRAP to road test new communication campaign material about food waste recycling.
As part of the campaign, launching in March, stickers and leaflets will be delivered direct to 37,000 South Northants homes, adverts will be placed on petrol pumps, buses, mobile billboards, and in local papers and magazines.
Council recycling officers will also be appearing at school assemblies, posters will be displayed in public areas, and Brackley Town Football Club and Towcester Racecourse will also host campaign banners. Many of those ordering a takeaway in the district will also receive campaign messages via specially printed containers supplied to restaurants.
The communication materials will feature messages relating to the effect of throwing food waste out alongside residual waste, including the creation of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas and that food waste can be used to create energy to power homes through processes such as anaerobic digestion.
To measure the success of the campaign recycling officers will be closely monitoring food caddies in the build-up, during and after the promotion, and door-to-door research among a representative sample of properties will take place once it has ended.
Councillor Dermot Bambridge, South Northamptonshire council’s portfolio holder for environmental services said: “It is somewhat of a privilege to be chosen by WRAP for this research. We do have a good recycling rate of around 60%, but we know a lot more food waste can be recycled.
“Putting waste food out for collection each week in the caddies we provide is not only good for the environment but it also helps keep down the council’s costs. The food waste produces gas to power electrical generators as well as fertilizer for farmland. This is much better for the environment than putting it in expensive landfill sites. I encourage everyone to put their food waste in the caddies for us to recycle rather than in the black bin.”
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Hampshire to replace Eastleigh HWRC
Hampshire county council is replacing its household waste recycling centre (HWRC) at Woodside Avenue, Eastleigh with a new, ‘better’ facility at nearby Stoneycroft Rise.
According to the council the new HWRC will feature a split level arrangement that it is claimed will make it easier for residents to deposit their household waste and recyclables, as bins are set at a lower level meaning users don’t have to climb steps.
A further benefit of the split level layout, the council claims, is that full waste containers can be removed and replaced without having to temporarily close the public area (as is the case at the current site), as servicing vehicles can reach the containers directly from the lower level, reducing congestion and ensuring that the HWRC can continue to operate as normal.
Eastleigh borough council is funding the new HWRC, using revenue from the release of land at the Woodside Avenue site for approximately 90 new homes, about 35% of which will be affordable homes.
Councillor Sean Woodward, executive member for economy, transport and environment, said: “Household Waste Recycling Centres are among Hampshire county council’s most widely used public services.
“The current Eastleigh HWRC is no longer large enough to cope with the level of usage it receives. The new site will be a big improvement with more capacity and better segregation between householders and operational vehicles. When it opens it will help local people to recycle more material, more safely and therefore reduce waste – as well as reducing road congestion.”
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