News in brief

Circular economy inquiry launched

The inquiry, which was announced on Tuesday (March 18), will focus on the potential economic value of resources contained in waste, and the potential benefits of alternative business models, including design for reuse.

The select committee will also look at how the government can set the conditions needed for a circular economy, such as fiscal levers and policy support, and what regulatory barriers need to be removed to create new secondary resources and markets.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit written evidence to the committee online to support paperless working, with a deadline for entries set for April 25 2014.

Online Quality Protocol checking tool goes live

A new online tool developed to help producers of aggregates and compost from waste to meet end-of-waste quality protocols has been launched today (March 20).

The QP Checker webtool has initially been developed for compost and recycled aggregates and is linked to the Environment Agencys Quality Protocols (QPs), which set out quality criteria for the production and use of products made from specific waste types.

Complying with the criteria in the QPs ensures the fully recovered product is no longer considered a waste and is removed from regulatory controls. The aim of the QPs is to provide increased market confidence in the quality of waste-derived products and encourage greater recovery, recycling and resource efficiency.

The tool has been produced under the European Union-based EQual project involving the Agency and a number of industry partners.

According to the developers, the QP Checker provides an easy, quick and cost effective way for producers to check that they meet the QP quality requirements and any other underpinning specifications.

Roger Hoare, environment & business manager at the Environment Agency, said: High quality waste-derived products not only benefit the environment through improved resource efficiency, they also benefit producers bottom line through improved profit margins.

Food waste feasibility studies announced

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has teamed up with a European food waste prevention project to launch seven social innovation feasibility studies to reduce food waste.

FUSIONS (Food Use for Social Innovation by Optimising Waste Prevention Strategies) which runs until July 2016, is funded by the European Commission and has launched the pilots with UK partner WRAP to compliment existing research into how social interaction is tackling food waste.

Of the 39 proposals received between February and November 2013, seven will be delivered by FUSIONS partners in countries across Europe including UK-based project Feeding the 5000, which hopes to publish best practice guidance for the creation of gleaning networks.

The studies will include looking at how the internet to connects surplus food with those who need it through to arranging community-based food preservation events.

GPT wins two year contract with Corbin & King

GPT Waste Management has won a two year contract with restaurant chain Corbin & King, to divert 100% of the waste from The Delauney, Wolseley and Colbert establishments from landfill.

GPT Waste will provide collection and disposal, and recycling services for the company, with waste to be processed at its materials recycling facility (MRF) in Runcorn. Meanwhile, any leftover residue waste is to be processed as refuse-derived fuel.

Tony Mottram, commercial director of GPT Waste said: Were delighted to have secured this prestigious contract with Corbin & King. We work with a broad spectrum of organisations to provide services that are designed to enable to them to achieve cost reduction by improving operational efficiency.

This contract is an impressive addition to the GPT portfolio and will demonstrate that 100% diversion within the commercial sector can be achieved with improved waste management implementation.

SAICA Natur helps raise funds for childrens charity

Paper recycler SAICA Natur has raised over 4,800 via donations of non-standard recyclable items for the Newlife Foundation, a charity supporting terminally ill and disabled children.

SAICA donated the items to Newlife Trading, which are either collected in insufficient quantities for re-sale, too complicated to deconstruct or are more suited to community reuse, to ensure they are not landfilled.

The recyclables which include furniture, cushions and clothing, are securely debranded and sold though Newlife Trading stores in Staffordshire and Shropshire to generate funds for the charity.

SAICA Naturs national account manager Kelly King said: We fully support Newlife Trading. Not only are we diverting our clients materials away from landfill, we are also helping to raise money to support children and families in difficult circumstances. Its hugely worthwhile.

Newlife Foundation Head of Operations Stephen Morgan said: Donations of unwanted stock like these are vital. They help the charity to support thousands of families across the UK. With SAICAs help we turn unwanted stock into essential support, transforming the lives of disabled and terminally ill children and their families.