AbitibiBowater gives £1million to charity
The charity link began in 1987, since when one million tonnes of paper, cans, glass and textiles have been collected as part of the Save the Children scheme. Plastics, cardboard and green waste are more recent additions to the kerbside collections, expected to boost recycling rates, as well as the level of donations. In its first year the scheme raised £5,000 for the charity. Today, donations by AbitibiBowater Recycling Europe approach £100,000 per annum.
Ron Humphreys, managing director AbitibiBowater Recycling Europe said: “This is a win-win situation. For those local authorities who are part of the scheme and have seen their tonnages improve and their recycling rates increase as a result. For those local residents who recycle, delivering a tangible benefit to the environment, while raising money for a renowned international charity. And, of course, to Save the Children, who are better off to the tune of more than £1 million.”
New deal agreed to reduce Oxfordshire's waste
The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) has agreed a new bonus scheme to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The new deal will supplement existing recycling credits within the county. Under the new scheme, the county's five waste collection authorities (WCAs) face performance bonuses or penalties depending on how much waste they collect for landfill disposal.
The OWP has agreed annual residual waste targets through to 2020, which have been set to ensure that their Joint Waste Strategy targets are met. Each WCA receives the same residual waste allocation per household per year. If a WCA betters its target, then it receives a bonus payment for each tonne below that target. Equally, if a WCA exceeds its residual waste allowance then it pays a penalty for each tonne above its target. The bonus and penalty payments are set at half the value of a recycling credit.
WCAs will continue to receive a recycling credit for every tonne of waste that they recycle or compost, but from April 2009 this will be overlain by the new bonus and penalty scheme. Wayne Lewis, OWP Coordinator said: “We've worked hard to develop a system that provides greater incentives for WCAs to reduce waste, while also trying to keep things simple and affordable.”
Londoners unaware of WEEE recycling rules
Andrew Lappage, Head of Waste Strategy at the North London Waste Authority, said: “Very few members of the public are aware of new EU legislation that was introduced last summer, meaning all unwanted electrical products need to be recycled responsibly.”
The NLWA are trying to reduce the number of WEEE recyclables that go to landfill have set up special collection points at local Reuse and Recycling Centres across the area.
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Since July 2007, all electrical items have been covered by the WEEE Directive, European legislation that makes producers of such equipment responsible for its recycling.
Paul James, head of WEEE services at DHL, which is working with London Boroughs to collect waste electrical items from recycling centres is clear how communities can contribute. He said: “In the UK alone we generate over 1 million tonnes of electrical waste, so there is no better time for households in the area to have a spring clean and regain the space that old electrical equipment is taking up.”
New recycling banks for Reading area
Residents in Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough have been offered a new recycling service from Tetra Pak, the Re3 Waste Partnership, and ACE UK – the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (see letsrecycle.com story).
Recycling banks for juice, milk and wine cartons have been installed in several locations. The recycling banks are near shopping centres and supermarkets so residents can drop off their recycling when they do their shopping. Previously they had to take cartons to Smallmead Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Reading.
Peter Baveystock, Wokingham Borough Council's waste and recycling manager, said: “These new carton banks will make it easier for people to recyle their juice, milk and wine cartons at convenient locations, instead of having to go to Smallmead in Reading or throw them out with the household rubbish – which ends up as increasingly expensive landfill waste.”
WRAP calls on industry to re-use soil
Many companies concentrate on reducing their wastage of building and demolition materials, without realising that soils make up a common component of construction waste. Many tonnes of soil are often considered unusable and transported off site to landfill.
SWMPs have been introduced to help construction businesses forecast and reduce the amount of waste they produce, including soils and other inert materials: improving their bottom line, as well as demonstrating good environmental performance. In April 2008 SWMPs will be a legal requirement for all projects worth more than £300,000 in England.
Paul Mathers, Programme Manager for Landscape & Regeneration at WRAP said:
“Re-using soils can play an important role in helping businesses with their Site Waste Management Plans, but often people forget that soils can be a waste. Too many construction companies still dispose of soils from project sites to landfill and import new topsoil to meet the landscaping needs of their developments.
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