Driver hours exemption for commercial collections
On behalf of its local authority members, and contractors to those local authorities, FTA had argued that the exemption from drivers' hours regulations for domestic waste collections should not be lost in the event that the same vehicles also collected similar waste, from the same streets, in the same vehicles. Journeys should not be more than 50 kilometres from where the vehicle is normally based, according to the new guidance.
FTA policy director James Hookham said: “This is a victory for common sense – the practical flexibility provided by the exemption for household collections should clearly be extended to collecting similar commercial waste in the same vehicles on the same routes. Any other interpretation would have resulted in more costs, wasted fuel, increased carbon dioxide emissions and reduced efficiency. All for no significant gain in safety.”
Teignbridge takes on Euro 5i collection fleet
The council is hiring 12 vehicles from Northampton-based SFS on a five-year basis, with each one featuring Volvo Penta Euro 5i engines with the latest on board diagnostics systems for monitoring emissions. The new fleet takes in a combination of narrow and standard width RCVs and will be used on an alternate weekly collection scheme for residual and organic waste from 56,000 homes. The contract has been achieved at no extra cost to the council than its current arrangement.
Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge executive spokesperson for environmental services said: “We have a long standing commitment to addressing climate change and reducing the council's carbon footprint; and deploying vehicles equipped with the Euro 5i engines will help contribute positively towards this.”
Gummer urges government to cut red tape
Former environment minister John Gummer MP said the government must slash red tape if the UK is to become a resource economy.
Addressing the CBI/Veolia conference “Rubbish or Resource?” last week, the chairman of the Conservatives' Quality of Life policy review said the UK had to get used to interpreting European legislation in the simplest and shortest way rather than developing a “jumbo system”.
“British government makes regulations as difficult as possible and then blames Europe,” he said. “We need to have a more sensible definition of waste right across the board. This is crucial because we need to have as little designated as waste as possible, instead of designating as much as possible.”
Grant to head Smurfit Kappa Recycling operations
As operations manager he brings experience from time at Ramage Recycling, Hannay Recycling and a commercial role at Smurfit Recycling the merger between Jefferson Smurfit and Kappa Packaging in 2005, which created the Smurift Kappa Group. Until a new regional manager is found, Mr Grant will continue to oversee projects he spearheaded at Smurfit Kappa Recycling in Scotland, including a £100,000 upgrade of the firm's Glasgow plant.
Simon Weston, managing director at Smurfit Kappa Recycling said, “Gary's industry knowledge and logistics expertise made him the ideal choice for this role. I'm sure our UK operations will benefit from his skills and experience.”
Business campaign launched in Surrey
Surrey county council kicked off a new business waste awareness campaign today, showing how local companies can go greener, save money and comply with tough new waste treatment legislation.
Businesses are said to be responsible for 45% of UK carbon emissions, but Surrey said research suggested fewer than one in five of small business senior directors are aware of changes to the law that will affect them. Alongside the new “3 Rs” campaign, the county council is offering free waste audits to companies who are keen to improve their systems to reduce the amount of waste they produce, while advice and support is also available to manufacturing companies to reduce the amount of packaging they use.
Peter Martin, Surrey county council executive member for the environment said: “As well as the environmental benefits there are also compelling financial reasons to cut down on what goes in your company's dustbin. Landfill Tax will increase by at least £8 per tonne a year for the next three years meaning significant additional costs to businesses. In addition, as of 30 October 2007, businesses in the UK can no longer send untreated waste to landfill.”
Register for free to comment