News in Brief

WRAP increases equipment leasing scheme

There will now be 20 panel members on the eQuip Residual Guarantee scheme, with the 10 new partners including Clydesdale Bank, HSBC Equipment Finance (UK) Ltd and JCB Finance Ltd.

Ian Wardle, head of business support at WRAP, said: “Since its inception in 2004, eQuip has made a significant contribution towards meeting UK recycling targets. To date, 358 assets have been guaranteed through eQuip, at a value in excess of £21 million. These assets have already diverted three and a half million tonnes of waste from landfill and the demand for this type of activity is going to grow rapidly in the next few years. The extended panel of lessors will help the recycling sector to keep pace with this demand.”

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Parliamentary clothing sustainability event held

A parliamentary event was held on Tuesday (April 22) in an attempt to increase awareness of clothing sustainability among MPs, waste management companies and other major players in the industry.

The 'Does my Carbon Footprint look big in this…?' showcase gave attendees the opportunity to see sustainable clothing, including recycling fashions, first hand.

Speakers including Dr Dorothy Maxwell, leader of Defra's Sustainable Clothing Roadmap, and Lucy Drage, fabric development and sustainability manager at Sainsbury's, also gave presentations on their role in developing clothing sustainability, reuse and recycling.

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Crusher manufacturer scoops high-profile award

A Buckinghamshire crusher manufacturer has won a prestigious award in recognition of its success in providing equipment to the construction industry.

Aylesbury-based Red Rhino Crushers received a Gold award at the Green Apple Awards ceremony, held at the House of Commons, for the success of its Compact Onsite Recycling Solutions project.

The company received the award alongside manufacturing support network MAS South-East and Jim Davison, a specialist for the government-backed body, said: “Red Rhino Crushers is a prime example of what can be accomplished with the right support network behind them. Many forward-thinking businesses have taken advantage of the Red Rhino compact range as an opportunity to create significant cost reduction savings, to minimise environmental impact and become more profitable whilst enhancing their environmental credentials.”

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Sunderland recycling centre re-opens

A Sunderland household waste recovery centre (HWRC) has reopened following a major upgrade, as part of a year-long, £12 million project to improve 11 of the 13 HWRCs across Northumberland.

The North Sunderland facility will benefit from improved drainage, extended opening hours and enhanced recycling provision, and is operated by SITA UK as part of its 28-year waste management contract with the county council.

Richard Hinchcliffe, the general manager for SITA UK in Northumberland, said: “The completion of work at North Sunderland is the latest milestone in a programme of improvements that will eventually see all of Northumberland's HWRCs brought up to an industry leading standard and underlines SITA UK's commitment to increasing recycling rates in the county.”

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Corus announces record steel can price increase

Steel company Corus has announced a 48% increase in the price it pays for steel cans delivered to its CanRoute collection centres, increasing by £60 to £185 per tonne.

The company explains that the price increase will benefit all local authorities, waste management companies and steel collectors who sell steel packaging to the 14 centres nationwide that make up its CanRoute network.

In a statement, it said: “The increase, which came into effect on 31st March 2008, reflects growing global demand for scrap steel, as well as the achievement of the CanRoute system, which had a record year in 2007.”